Mass murder charges over MH17 disaster
THREE Russian men and one Ukrainian have been charged with the murder of 298 people for their alleged role in the downing of MH17.
Almost five years after the death of the passengers, their bereaved families have finally learned the names of those allegedly responsible for the harrowing attack.
All four will face trial next March in the Netherlands.
The case against Russians Sergey Dubinskiy, Igor Girkin, Oleg Pulatov and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko was officially opened overnight during a press conference near Amsterdam by the Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT) which includes authorities from Australia.
The families of those killed were updated before the JIT made its latest criminal findings public.
Dubinskiy was employed by the Russian Military Intelligence Service, Girkin was a former colonel of the Russian Federal Security Service — Russia’s spy service — Pulatov was a former soldier of the GRU special forces and Kharchenko led a military combat unit in the city of Donestk.
Netherlands chief public prosecutor Fred Westerbeke told the gathering: “This is the start of the Dutch criminal proceedings”.
The men have been charged with causing the crash and the murder of the 298 passengers. A trial will start on March 9, 2020, but Russia is unlikely to extradite the men and the case will be heard in absentia.
Mr Westerbeke said while the men did not push the button and “may have wanted to shoot a military plane”, there was evidence they “co-operated closely” to gain access to the Buk missile that was used.
“It is up to the court of The Hague to pass sentence on these accusations,” he said. “The suspects will have the opportunity to explain their side of the story in court.”
International arrest warrants have been released and the men have been placed on national and international most wanted lists.
Investigators will not seek extradition for the men but have asked their respective nations to co-operate with court proceedings and the continuing investigation. The Malaysia Airlines flight was shot down over eastern Ukraine during its journey from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014.
Among the victims were 38 Australian citizens and two who also called Australia home. The announcement follows trilateral talks earlier this year between Dutch, Australian and Russian authorities behind closed doors.
The JIT was formed and tasked to investigate within a month of the downing of the plane and has since claimed MH17 was hit by a Buk missile supplied by Russia’s 53rd antiaircraft brigade in Kursk.
AFP assistant commissioner Peter Crozier said Australia, along with other countries including Britain and Indonesia, had confidence in the Dutch legal system. Russia has vehemently denied all involvement in the shooting down of MH17.