298 people were on MH17
Photo: Radio Free Europe
Prosecutors in the Netherlands have concluded that the Russian military was the source of a missile that shot down a Malaysian civilian airliner over Ukraine four years ago. The 2014 explosion killed all 298 people aboard flight MH17. The findings are certain to further deepen tensions between Russia and the West. The governments of Netherlands and Australia have already said they will take legal action against the Russian government.
Of those killed 196 were Dutch, 42 Malaysian, 27 Australian, 12 Indonesians, and 10 British. Others came from Germany, Belgium, the Philippines, New Zealand and Canada.
The flight was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur and was shot down over territory in Ukraine occupied by pro-Russian rebel forces. Yesterday Dutch-led international investigators concluded that the missile belonged to a Russian brigade involved in the Ukrainian civil war. Prosecutors added that the missile, called a Buk, was made in Moscow in 1986.
The decision of both the Netherlands and Australia was announced in a statement from the Dutch cabinet. Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said:
“On the basis of the [joint international team’s]conclusions, the Netherlands and Australia are now convinced that Russia is responsible for the deployment of the Buk installation that was used to down MH17.
“The government is now taking the next step by formally holding Russia accountable. We call on Russia to accept its responsibility and cooperate fully with the process to establish the truth and achieve justice for the victims of flight MH17 and their next of kin.”
The West’s relations are already deeply strained following the Russian occupation of the Crimea and the poisoning of the Skripal family in Salisbury, where a former Russian spy and his daughter were infected by a nerve agent. 23 nations subsequently expelled Russian diplomats of whom nine qualified for the World Cup: England, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Australia.
Furthermore, as the investigation into Russian interference in the US election continues, there is increasing evidence that they also meddled in the Brexit referendum and other European elections.
According to the investigation’s conclusion, the missile that downed MH17 belonged to the 53rd Antiaircraft Brigade, an active duty unit in the Russian military, based in the city of Kursk. The prosecutors said it was trucked from Russia itself to eastern Ukraine in July 2014. At that time in the Ukranian civil war, Russian-backed rebels were taking losses from Ukrainian airstrikes and artillery. Simultaneously however, Eastern Ukraine was also a busy civilian air corridor for international flights.
Two other and independent investigations carried out in the Netherlands have proceeded more slowly but reached the same conclusions, making it now difficult to escape the consequences that the Russians were integral in the murder of 298 innocent civilians.
Blok’s counterpart in Australia, Julie Bishop, issued the following statement:
“A sophisticated weapon belonging to the Russian Army was dispatched and used to shoot down a civilian aircraft.” This action should be of grave international concern. We are discussing these findings with our partners and considering our options.”
However no-one has categorically stated who actually fired the missile. The Netherlands have not qualified for the World Cup but Australian foreign minister Bishop already linked the Socceroos’ participation to the Skripal incident back on March 27:
“There are a whole range of further options of action that could be taken, the World Cup is one of the further actions that could be taken in relation to this matter.”
Later that day, she climbed down on twitter and the matter quietened down.
This week’s news though is certain to restart the debate lest Australia and others be seen participating in a PR exercise for a a government they are simultaneously accusing of mass murder.
