Putin to Dutch Prime Minister: Russia rejects results of MH17 investigation
At a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte during the G20 summit in Osaka, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia does not recognize the results of the investigation into the crash of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in the sky over the Donetsk region in July 2014, as stated by the Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov
"I can confirm this dialogue: it was a very brief conversation, not an official meeting," said Peskov as quoted by UNIAN news agency.
"Putin also had such conversations with almost all participants of the summit," – said the Press Secretary of the Russian President.
"Indeed, there were questions about the position of President Putin and the Russian side on this issue. So our position is clear, consistent, and it is based on the fact that it is hardly possible to agree with the investigation, that was carried out without the participation of the Russian Federation," Peskov said.
According to him, "such arguments are regularly brought to our Russian counterparts in the Netherlands and other countries at various levels."
The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 flight MH17 was shot down on July 17, 2014 over separatist-held territory of the Donetsk region. All 298 people on board were killed. Passengers of the flight included citizens of 10 countries. The majority of the victims (196 people) were citizens of the Netherlands.
The Joint Investigation Team (JIT)—which includes representatives from Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Ukraine—has carried out criminal investigation of the tragedy. The countries participating in the investigation have agreed not to create a separate tribunal, and decided that those responsible would be brought before the Dutch court.
On May 24, 2018, the JIT presented additional evidence of Russia’s crucial role in the tragic air disaster. The JIT concluded that the Buk ground-to-air missile system that shot down the passenger airplane was in service of the 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade of the Russian Armed Forces stationed in Kursk.
On May 25, the Dutch government took steps to hold Russia accountable for the crash of flight MH17, a process which will be managed separately from prosecuting the perpetrators.
Australia stated it will seek payment of compensation from Russia to the families of the MH17 crash victims.