Russia and pirates - ironic justice?

[CCIP]

I thought Russia was really playing weak and feeble when they let the pirates from last week's successful tanker-freeing operation go.

But now I read this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8675978.stm

They were released in an inflatable boat without navigational equipment.
[...]
"It seems that they all died," the unnamed source was quoted as saying by Russia's Interfax news agency.

As inhumane as it may sound, my first thought is that this is exactly what they deserved in the first place. Certainly can't call this an unjust fate!