updateThe Netherlands and Ukraine were diametrically opposed to Russia for the first time today before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) over the question of guilt in the MH17 disaster. Russia also denied any involvement in Strasbourg. To the irritation of both countries and the relatives.
–
Foreign editors
Latest update:
17:59
For the first time, international judges examined Russia’s possible role in the downing of flight MH17 on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 on board. The Netherlands has sued Russia at the European Court. At the same time, the court heard complaints from Ukraine about the Russian role in the war in that country.
–
Seventeen judges have to decide whether those complaints are admissible. The Netherlands tried to convince the court that Russia was in charge in eastern Ukraine at the time and can therefore be held responsible for the disaster.
–
Effective control
Dutch lawyer Babette Koopman argued that the Buk missile had been supplied by Russia to separatists and launched from an area where the Russians were carrying out “effective control” and also supporting the separatists with manpower.
–
–
Russia objected to the court that the missile that killed MH17 was not fired from Russian soil but from Ukraine. The rebels there were their own boss, Moscow insists. And that while all evidence from the criminal proceedings in the Netherlands against four suspects have also been submitted to the court.
–
“Yet the Russian representative maintained without substantiation that Russia had nothing to do with it,” says personal injury lawyer Sander de Lang, who was in the courtroom with four other lawyers from the Legal Aid Team MH17. “This man was just lying. That is contempt of the court.”
–
–
The Russian lawyer’s words sparked angry comments from relatives in the public gallery. “Russia keeps lying all together,” says Silene Fredriksz, who had traveled to Strasbourg with six other relatives with a van and banner. “Still, I have a positive feeling about it. The Netherlands had a good and clear story. It was important to us to be here. This is the first case against Russia, the main person responsible for the disaster.”
–
Ramp na de ramp
Relative Piet Ploeg, chairman of the Vliegramp MH17 foundation, quoted before the court from the numerous victim statements by relatives about the impact of the disaster. He denounced the constant denial and disinterest of Russia that bereaved families. “What we call disaster after disaster.”
–
On 7 March, the criminal proceedings against four suspects will be resumed at the court at Schiphol. Then the defense of suspect Oleg Pulatov has the floor.
–
–
Rebels own boss
Flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014. An investigation has shown that the aircraft was shot down by a BUK missile. The Netherlands cooperates criminally with Belgium, Malaysia, Australia and Ukraine to bring the suspects to justice. The Netherlands and Australia also suggested Russia liable in May 2018 for his part in bringing down the plane.
Russia is challenging charges that the missile that killed MH17 was fired from Ukrainian territory. You could never speak of real control over such a war zone. And the rebels in the east of the country would have been their own boss. Moreover, the West would have no problem with it, because it itself supported the government in Kiev.
The Netherlands argues that Russia did indeed call the shots in the rebel area. Among other things, the evidence in the criminal case against the suspects of launching the rocket has sufficiently demonstrated this, according to the Dutch lawyers. The court is expected to take several months to decide whether to hear the case.
–
Demanded for life
Last December, the Dutch judiciary against four Russian suspects In the case of the MH17 disaster, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. It has been established for the Public Prosecution Service that rebel leader Girkin, his right-hand man Dubinsky and commanders Pulatov and Chartshenko are guilty of deliberately shooting down the plane and thereby the murder of all 298 on board.
Although the four suspects were not part of the crew of the Buk-Telar missile installation, of which, according to the Public Prosecution Service, it is ‘undeniable’ that flight MH17 was shot down, they did form the command structure in the rebel area. They played a ‘steering military role’ and were jointly responsible for bringing in, transporting and deploying the Buk missile on July 17, 2014.
–
Watch our videos about MH17 below:
–
–
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss a thing from the stars.
–
–
