Investigators charged four men with ties to Russian intelligence agencies with the downing of malaysia airlines flight 17 over ukraine five years ago. russia denies any role in the deaths of 298.

Suspects have ties to pro-Russia militias

NIEUWEGEIN, The Netherlands • Three Russians and a Ukrainian will face murder charges for the deaths of 298 people aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 that was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014, the international investigative team said on Wednesday.

The suspects are likely to be tried in absentia in the Netherlands next March. Dutch authorities said Russia has not co-operated with the inquiry and is not expected to surrender defendants.

“These suspects are seen to have played an important role in the death of 298 innocent civilians,” Dutch Chief Prosecutor Fred Westerbeke said.

“Although they did not push the button themselves, we suspect them of close co-operation to get the (missile launcher) where it was, with the aim to shoot down an airplane.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry denied that it had not co-operated while saying on Wednesday the investigation was intended to damage Moscow’s reputation.

“Once again, absolutely groundless accusations are being made against the Russian side, aimed at discrediting the Russian Federation in the eyes of the international community,” the Foreign Ministry said.

MH17 was shot out of the sky on July 17, 2014 over territory held by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine as it was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. Everyone aboard died.

The joint investigation team formed by Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Ukraine found that the plane was struck by a Russian missile.

The downing of the jet — some analysts have speculated that separatists were aiming for a Ukrainian military aircraft — proved to be a turning point in the conflict in Ukraine, rallying Western public opinion against Russia.

“The possibility exists the suspects wanted to shoot a military airplane instead of a passenger flight,” Westerbeke said. “Even if that was the original plan, we still hold them responsible for the downing MH17.”

The Dutch- led international team tasked with assigning criminal responsibility named the four suspects as Russians Sergey Dubinsky, Oleg Pulatov and Igor Girkin, as well as Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko. It said international arrest warrants for the four had been issued.

Girkin, 48, a vocal and battle-hardened Russian nationalist, is believed to live in Moscow where he makes regular public appearances. He is a commentator on Russian and foreign affairs via his own website and YouTube channel.

“The rebels did not shoot down the Boeing,” Girkin told Reuters on Wednesday.