International Cooperation in the Field of Combating Piracy and Problems Related to Bringing to Justice for Piracy

The purpose of the research. The article considers the issues of developing comprehensive approach to countering piracy, eliminating its underlying causes and bringing to responsibility for this crime. Various counteraction mechanisms both at the international and national levels (e.g.: in the Russian Federation, in Greece, in Japan) as well as their effectiveness are analyzed. The purpose of the research is to identify the most effective ways of cooperation in the fight against this global problem, as well as issues encountered by states when applying existing legal acts in practice. All these measures permit to make the fight against piracy as effective as possible. Results. As a result of the research, the author comes to the conclusion that the problem of piracy is still actual. In this regard, there are international, regional and subregional (those that take into account particularities of a region) treaties and mechanisms. The effectiveness and viability of existing ways to combat piracy largely depend on whether this issue is considered in conjunction with other problems of the region (e.g.: poverty), and also depend on the necessary measures which are taken to resolve these difficulties. The author also points out the necessity in creating courts and tribunals at regional level and calls for making efforts in order to unify and develop national legislation. Modification of the legislation is especially relevant when it concerns the issue on bringing pirates to responsibility (e.g. amend matters of procedure).

maritime piracy, responsibility, national legislation, UN Security Council, UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, jurisdiction