Poroshenko: Russia’s behavior proves its involvement in the downing of MH17
Ukraine is making every effort to ensure that those responsible for the tragedy of the plane crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 have been punished.
“Ukraine remembers each victim of the MH17 crash. Terrorism in any form is unacceptable, and those responsible for this tragedy should be punished,” read the statement made by the Ukrainian head of state on the second anniversary of the tragedy in the skies over a Russian-occupied part of the Donbas, the presidential press service reports.
Poroshenko stressed that for the investigation of the crime, which killed 298 people, and for the punishment of the guilty, Ukraine is actively working together with Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and the Netherlands on the creation of an international mechanism for the prosecution of all those who are responsible for the crash.
“A civil aircraft, Malaysian Boeing 777, was shot down by Russian terrorists with a weapon made in and imported from Russia. Today, a lot has been done to ensure that the perpetrators are punished. The Dutch Safety Board conducted a comprehensive technical investigation into the causes of the disaster. A criminal investigation of the crash is now being completed under the auspices of the Prosecutor's Office of the Netherlands,” the President said.
According to him, only the Russian Federation is interfering with the investigation of the tragedy. “Russia, abusing the right of veto, blocked the UN Security Council’s decision to establish an international tribunal to investigate the downing of MH17, which is indirect and logical proof of its involvement in the crime,” he said.
“Despite this, we are, together with our partners, doing everything necessary to ensure the prosecution of all those responsible for this tragedy,” Poroshenko said.