The court announced when to expect a verdict in the case of the tragedy of flight MH17

In the case of the downing of Malaysian airline flight MH17 by the Russians on July 14, 2014, there was enough evidence for Russia to be found responsible for the deaths of 283 passengers and 15 crew members. The judge also said that this year we should expect a verdict in this high-profile case.

This was reported by the telegram channel “Today”.

What is known

According to prosecutor Theis Berger, who represents the prosecution at the trial in the Netherlands, there is evidence of the guilt of specific defendants, whose names are also known.

Among these evidence:

• The nature of the damage to the aircraft indicates that, as the prosecution says, it was shot down by a Buk missile.
• SAM “Buk” was taken to Pervomaiskoye by order and accompanied by the accused
• The Buk air defense missile system, belonging to the 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade of the Russian army, was stationed in Kursk, Russia.

“There’s a lot of evidence in the case, including photographs, video footage, satellite imagery, intercepted conversations and compelling forensic evidence. It’s enough for a guilty verdict“Berger said.

Among the accused:

• former FSB officer and so-called former “DPR” defense minister Igor Girkin (Strelkov);
• citizen of Ukraine Leonid Kharchenko (fought for the so-called “DNR”);
• then Colonel of the GRU of the General Staff of the Russian Federation, head of the so-called “GRU DPR” Sergei Dubinsky;
• GRU Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Pulatov.

Presiding Judge Gendrik Steingajus stated that a decision in the MH17 case could be made on November 17 or December 15, 2022.

high-profile case

• Recall that on July 17, 2014, a Boeing 777 passenger plane of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was shot down in the sky over the Donbass. 298 people died.
• An international investigation team determined that the plane was shot down by a Russian Buk air defense system. Prosecutors and investigators identified suspects of involvement in the downing of the Boeing, and in 2019 Ukraine transferred criminal proceedings to colleagues from the Netherlands.
• Russia tried in every possible way to interfere with the process in order to preserve its image of a peace-loving state. In the summer of 2021, the investigation into MH17 rejected the testimony of the Russians about the involvement of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the launch of the missile that shot down the plane.
• A few months later, the Dutch National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) had to meet with the lawyers of the relatives of the victims in order to grant them state protection. The thing is that cases of persecution of participants in the process have become more frequent.