1.   But the pirates have a popularity bred in the Soviet era, when they played a part in lifting the cultural Iron Curtain.

2.   Pirates had a form of disability insurance centuries before it became standard.

3.   In some cases, the pirates have close links with those in power.

4.   They said a pirate emissary had contacted the owner of the ship and claimed the pirates have the ship and crew and demanded money for their release.