Three Russians and a Ukrainian to face MH17 murder charges

THREE Russians and a Ukrainian will face murder charges for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 which killed 298 people, in a trial to start in the Netherlands next March, an investigation team said yesterday.

The suspects are likely to be tried in absentia, however, as the Netherlands has said Russia has not co-operated.

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

“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 air plane.”

Dutch Justice Minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus said the Netherlands had taken unspecified “diplomatic steps” against Moscow for failing to fully comply with legal requests or providing incorrect information.

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

Ukrainian authorities said they would try to detain Kharchenko, the suspect believed to be on its territory.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “The Russian Federation must now co-operate fully with the prosecution and provide any assistance it requests.” There were 10 Britons on the flight. Most of those on board were Dutch.

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

Asked if she expected the suspects to attend the trial, Silene Fredriksz, whose son Bryce was on the plane, said: “No, I don’t think so. But I don’t care. I just want the truth, and this is the truth.”

Moscow said it does not trust the investigation. “Russia was unable to take part despite expressing an interest right from the start,” a Kremlin spokesperson said.