Russia initially said the 10 pirates would be taken to Moscow to face criminal charges over the hijacking, but they were released instead because there were not sufficient legal grounds to detain them

They were released in an inflatable boat without navigational equipment.

the pirates were set adrift in the Indian Ocean to make their own way home

The Navfor spokesman suggested the loss of navigational equipment would not necessarily be critical if there was an experienced mariner among the 10 men on the boat.

"It seems that they all died,"