Husar-Yes, but once you have them captured and handcuffed, what reason do you have to kill them then? If the crew wants to start a shootout with boarding pirates on an oil tanker that's their own decision, I'm not going to argue about people trying to fight for their freedom and/or lives, but it also bears quite a few risks, we already said many ports don't allow armed crews etc.
I agree Husar, for what is justice without mercy. I was just pointing out some of the more unique facets of violent crimes while at sea, where there are no police to call on. It's why there is a need to allow merchant vessels to arm themselves against such depredations. Convoying through pirate operating areas is a wise precaution as well. Ships captains need the international community to provide guidelines and legal authority to deal with those who are captured.

As for this abandoning of the pirates in a small boat without navigational aids, most modern pirates don't operate far from the coast. I'll bet that they weren't that far from safety. They probably had a fair chance to survive. I still think that the Russian acted appropriately in the circumstances. I think it unfair to judge him harshly unless one was there to observe the facts.