Oligarchs

[Bird on a Fire]

Yeah, this is the agreement outlawing privateering. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_D ... ritime_Law

They could revoke it or create a special mechanism, of course.

But I think the current sanctions are probably enough already. Oligarchs want to be swanning around the Med and Caribbean, not holed up in Vladivostok.

[Herainestold]

The EU, UK, US and other sanctioning entities should issue letters of marque and reprisal against the Oligarch yachts, allowing all those on the high seas to capture them and dispose of their contents.

So you would dispense with the rule of law and human rights?

Wikipedia 21st-century American reconsideration of letters of marque

In February of 2022, House bill H.R. 6869 was introduced, and if passed would "[authorize] the President to issue letters of marque and reprisal" in relation to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[45]

[Bird on a Fire]

I suspect "if passed" is doing a lot of work there.

It was introduced by a Texas Republican, and of course even if passed there's no guarantee the president would actually use it.

Not clear to me what problem is meant to be solved by outsourcing maritime law enforcement to the private sector?

[Millennie Al]

The EU, UK, US and other sanctioning entities should issue letters of marque and reprisal against the Oligarch yachts, allowing all those on the high seas to capture them and dispose of their contents.

So you would dispense with the rule of law and human rights?

Letters of marque have always been issued in accordance with law. Confiscated goods are apportioned after adjudication by an Admiralty court.
It is as lawful as sanctions.

There's more to the law than that, but far more seriously, you have failed to address the issue of human rights. You advocate permanent deprivation of assets without trial.

[bolo]

I suspect "if passed" is doing a lot of work there.

It was introduced by a Texas Republican, and of course even if passed there's no guarantee the president would actually use it.

Not only a Republican in a Democrat-controlled House, but a Republican who isn't on the Foreign Affairs Committee and who hasn't been able to find even one cosponsor.

[Herainestold]

I suspect "if passed" is doing a lot of work there.

It was introduced by a Texas Republican, and of course even if passed there's no guarantee the president would actually use it.

Not only a Republican in a Democrat-controlled House, but a Republican who isn't on the Foreign Affairs Committee and who hasn't been able to find even one cosponsor.

Ah well. At least he tried.

[Herainestold]

So you would dispense with the rule of law and human rights?

Letters of marque have always been issued in accordance with law. Confiscated goods are apportioned after adjudication by an Admiralty court.
It is as lawful as sanctions.

There's more to the law than that, but far more seriously, you have failed to address the issue of human rights. You advocate permanent deprivation of assets without trial.

There's no human right to be a billionaire. I'm in favour of expropriating all assets over a billion

[dyqik]

I suspect "if passed" is doing a lot of work there.

It was introduced by a Texas Republican, and of course even if passed there's no guarantee the president would actually use it.

Not clear to me what problem is meant to be solved by outsourcing maritime law enforcement to the private sector?

Have you never seen Dog the Bounty Hunter?

There should at least be some cheap and nasty TV out of it.

[Millennie Al]

Letters of marque have always been issued in accordance with law. Confiscated goods are apportioned after adjudication by an Admiralty court.
It is as lawful as sanctions.

There's more to the law than that, but far more seriously, you have failed to address the issue of human rights. You advocate permanent deprivation of assets without trial.

There's no human right to be a billionaire. I'm in favour of expropriating all assets over a billion

But you re advocating something which goes much further than that - that private individuals would be authorised to kill people and take property with no trial and without the victims having broken any law. There have been many examples through history of privatised tax collection, which is merely the latter, and it is associated with corruption, abuses, and injustice. And even if you're so consumed by envy that you're happy for a billionaire to be killed while trying to prevent their property being taken, the method you advocate will result in their staff and innocent bystanders being killed or injured as well.

[Herainestold]

There's more to the law than that, but far more seriously, you have failed to address the issue of human rights. You advocate permanent deprivation of assets without trial.

There's no human right to be a billionaire. I'm in favour of expropriating all assets over a billion

But you re advocating something which goes much further than that - that private individuals would be authorised to kill people and take property with no trial and without the victims having broken any law. There have been many examples through history of privatised tax collection, which is merely the latter, and it is associated with corruption, abuses, and injustice. And even if you're so consumed by envy that you're happy for a billionaire to be killed while trying to prevent their property being taken, the method you advocate will result in their staff and innocent bystanders being killed or injured as well.

I didn't say they should be killed. I just said their assets should be confiscated.

[Stranger Mouse]

Nice Snake Island reference in the documentation for this seizing of a yacht.

https://twitter.com/mike_eckel/status/1 ... 5WY3xk2oHw

[dyqik]

There's no human right to be a billionaire. I'm in favour of expropriating all assets over a billion

But you re advocating something which goes much further than that - that private individuals would be authorised to kill people and take property with no trial and without the victims having broken any law. There have been many examples through history of privatised tax collection, which is merely the latter, and it is associated with corruption, abuses, and injustice. And even if you're so consumed by envy that you're happy for a billionaire to be killed while trying to prevent their property being taken, the method you advocate will result in their staff and innocent bystanders being killed or injured as well.

I didn't say they should be killed. I just said their assets should be confiscated.

How do you think physical assets get confiscated against wishes of the owner - who is rich enough to employ armed security guards?

[Bird on a Fire]

Can't believe "bring back piracy" is getting serious discussion lol

I'd watch that show, though

[Herainestold]

But you re advocating something which goes much further than that - that private individuals would be authorised to kill people and take property with no trial and without the victims having broken any law. There have been many examples through history of privatised tax collection, which is merely the latter, and it is associated with corruption, abuses, and injustice. And even if you're so consumed by envy that you're happy for a billionaire to be killed while trying to prevent their property being taken, the method you advocate will result in their staff and innocent bystanders being killed or injured as well.

I didn't say they should be killed. I just said their assets should be confiscated.

How do you think physical assets get confiscated against wishes of the owner - who is rich enough to employ armed security guards?

I'm sure that Abramovich himself will be at the helm of his vessel and the privateers will make him walk the plank.

[EACLucifer]

Can't believe "bring back piracy" is getting serious discussion lol

I'd watch that show, though

I mean the UK's signed a treaty not to do this sort of thing, but the US hasn't...any of our American friends on here want to secure a letter of marque so we can go on a cutting out expedition? We shouldn't sell the bear's skin before we have the bird in the bush, but the Russians are sitting there pleased as Pontius Pilate, and there's a great deal to be said for making hay while the iron's hot.

[dyqik]

Can't believe "bring back piracy" is getting serious discussion lol

I'd watch that show, though

I mean the UK's signed a treaty not to do this sort of thing, but the US hasn't...any of our American friends on here want to secure a letter of marque so we can go on a cutting out expedition? We shouldn't sell the bear's skin before we have the bird in the bush, but the Russians are sitting there pleased as Pontius Pilate, and there's a great deal to be said for making hay while the iron's hot.

I'm pretty sure that's a recipe for wildfires.

[Stranger Mouse]

List of oligarchs who have recently been found dead in unusual circumstances

https://twitter.com/ralakbar/status/151 ... vuhsM7tnWw

[EACLucifer]

Scheherazade - the superyacht thought to belong to VVP himself - has been impounded by Italian authorities.

[warumich]

Lol, named after the woman who tells the tyrannical autocrat all the made up fairy stories he wants to hear in order for him not to kill her? How fitting

[lpm]

Length of warship that was rumoured hit yesterday: 409 feet

Length of Putin's alleged super yacht: 459 feet

Sums up why they lost the war - spent the nation's resources on toys for the thieves.

[jimbob]

https://www.businessinsider.com/fbi-fou ... sia-2022-5

Not surprising

[Stranger Mouse]

Another dead Russian rich guy https://twitter.com/billbrowder/status/ ... sJDmgdsOsg

Edited to delete “billionaire” as it’s not clear he was

[IvanV]

Another dead Russian rich guy https://twitter.com/billbrowder/status/ ... sJDmgdsOsg

Edited to delete “billionaire” as it’s not clear he was

There is probably heightened in-fighting among the ruling classes in Russia as there is rather suddenly a smaller pie to divide, and many pie distribution routes have been shut down.

There are a number of reasons such people end up dead. A perusal of Catherine Belton's book "Putin's People" would suggest the two main reasons are:

They are refusing to provide the level of tribute currently required by their ruler, or have otherwise acted disloyally.
They represent some kind of a threat, for example possessing sensitive information that they may be at risk of using.