SBU declares three Russians, one Ukrainian suspects in MH17 case

"Investigators of the main investigation department of the Security Service of Ukraine, under procedural control of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, in a criminal proceeding registered on July 17, 2014, in connection with the shooting down of the Boeing 777 passenger aircraft (flight MH17) of the Malaysia Airlines, in which 298 people were killed, have approved notices of suspicion to citizen of the Russian Federation I. V. Girkin in committing a crime envisaged by Part 3 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, citizen of the Russian Federation S. M. Dubinsky in committing a crime envisaged by Part 3 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, citizen of the Russian Federation O. Yu. Pulatov in committing a crime envisaged by Part 5 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, citizen of Ukraine L. V. Kharchenko in committing a crime envisaged by Part 5 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine," the report reads.

Earlier reports said that the trial in the MH17 case would begin on March 9, 2020.

Everything has already been prepared for the consideration of the MH17 case. All criminal procedures necessary for the transfer of the case to the court are currently being completed.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing-777, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down by Russian armed groups in occupied Donbas on July 17, 2014. There were 283 passengers and 15 crewmembers on board the aircraft. All of them died.

The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) reported that flight MH17 had been shot down from the Buk missile system belonging to the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces stationed in Kursk.

In May 2018, the Netherlands and Australia officially accused Russia of its involvement in the MH17 crash.

op