‘SHOW PROOF RUSSIA SHOT DOWN MH17’
Accusations against three Russians and one Ukrainian are politically-motivated, says Dr Mahathir
MALAYSIA wants ironclad proof that Russia shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 five years ago killing 298 people.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the government wanted proof of guilt that Russia did it, adding that the accusations against three Russians and one Ukrainian were politically-motivated against Russia.
“So far, there’s no proof, only hearsay. I expect everybody to go for the truth,” said Dr Mahathir after attending the Prime Minister’s Department’s Hari Raya open house here yesterday.
He said Malaysia was “very unhappy” because from the very beginning, the tragedy had become a political issue that saw Russia being accused even before the case was examined.
“It is very difficult for us to accept that.”
When asked if Malaysia’s position
in the matter was because of its stake with Russia, a country that buys Malaysian palm oil, Dr Mahathir replied in the negative.
“No, no. That is different,” he said.
Asked what would happen if Russia refused to produce the suspects responsible for the downing, Dr Mahathir said Malaysia could not do anything.
“Malaysia is a small country. (Should) we go to war with Russia or the United States? We don’t have an army big enough to do that.”
Investigators on Wednesday named Russians Igor Girkin, Sergei Dubinskiy, Oleg Pulatov, and Ukrainian
Leonid Kharchenko as suspects in the downing of Flight MH17.
Girkin was a former colonel in the FSB, the successor agency to the infamous KGB. He was reportedly the defence minister of the “Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR)” at that time.
Separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine, reportedly backed by Russia, had declared their own republic and named it DNR.
Dubinsky and Pulatov were with the Russian military intelligence agency GRU, and reportedly carried out similar roles in DNR. Kharchenko was reported to have led a unit of the DNR GRU under Dubinsky.
Dutch prosecutor Fred Westerbeke had said the four were responsible for bringing the BUK missile system from Russia to eastern Ukraine “even though they did not push the button themselves”.
Their trial is expected to begin in the Netherlands in March next year, though they might be tried in absentia because Russia would not hand over its citizens. Kharchenko’s whereabouts were unknown.
Moscow had rubbished claims of its involvement in the downing.
Bernama reported that the Foreign Ministry said Malaysia appreciated the Joint Investigation Team’s (JIT) presentation on Wednesday. The ministry said Malaysia remained committed to the JIT process and was equally so in ensuring that it was transparent, credible and effective.
“Our approach has always been that conclusions must be based on evidence, and not be politically-motivated. In this connection, we call on all parties to cooperate with the process so that the truth will be discovered,” the statement said.
Our approach has always been that conclusions must be based on evidence, and not be politically-motivated.”
Foreign Ministry statement
MOSCOW must ensure that those charged with murder over the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 face justice, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, after international investigators accused three Russians and a Ukrainian over the disaster.
The trial of the four men with military and intelligence links will start in the Netherlands in March next year, although they are likely to be tried in absentia as neither Russia nor Ukraine extradites their nationals.
They would be the first people to face justice over the catastrophe five years ago in which 298 people died.
But Moscow slammed the “absolutely unfounded accusations” over the downing of the plane, which was travelling between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur when it was hit by a missile over part of eastern Ukraine held by pro-Russian rebels.
The Dutch-led inquiry team on Wednesday said international arrest warrants had been issued for Russian nationals Igor Girkin, Sergei Dubinsky and Oleg Pulatov, and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko, all of whom are suspected of roles in the separatist
Donetsk People’s Republic.
Dutch prosecutor Fred Westerbeke said the four were to be held responsible for bringing the BUK missile system from Russia to eastern Ukraine “even though they have not pushed the button themselves”.
“We won’t demand their extradition because Russian and Ukrainian law forbids the extradition of their nationals. But we ask Russia once more to cooperate — many of our questions remain unanswered,” he said.
The same investigation team said in May last year that the BUK anti-aircraft missile that hit the Boeing 777 had originated from the 53rd Russian military brigade based in the southwestern city of Kursk.
Pompeo welcomed the charges, saying: “We call upon Russia to... ensure that any indicted individuals currently in Russia face justice.”
Relatives of those killed aboard MH17 also welcomed the news.
“It’s a start. I’m satisfied,” Silene Fredriksz, whose son and daughter-in-law were killed in the disaster, said.
“I am happy that the trial is finally going to start and that the names have been announced.”
Asked if she blamed anyone for the crash, Fredriksz said: “(Russian President Vladimir) Putin. Because he made this possible. He created this situation. He is the main responsible person.”
Piet Ploeg, president of a Dutch victims’ association who lost three family members on MH17, said it was “very important news”.
“The relatives of the victims have been waiting for this for nearly five years.”