Ambassador: MH17 trial remains one of most important for Netherlands

“Since 2014, five countries have been most active in the investigation – Ukraine, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, and Malaysia. These countries set up a joint group. They worked out various options on how to bring to justice those who shot down Boeing. The first option was to establish a special tribunal under the auspices of the UN Security Council. A resolution was drafted and received general approval. The Russian Federation was the only country that vetoed this resolution,” Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Netherlands Vsevolod Chentsov said on the air of Dom TV channel.

He said that the countries then had focused on two options: “The establishment of a hybrid tribunal by these five countries (there were such precedents) or the transfer of the case to national jurisdiction. Finally, it was determined that the national jurisdiction of the Netherlands would be applied during these negotiations.”

As noted, the topic of the downed Flight MH17 appears in several lawsuits. For example, the case is being heard by the District Court of The Hague, and its purpose is to identify the individuals responsible for the tragedy.

Besides, Ukraine prosecutes the Russian Federation as a state at the UN International Court of Justice on the basis of the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, Chentsov added.

"In addition, there is a trial in Strasbourg. There are two lawsuits that were initiated by Ukraine and the Netherlands, they are now merged into one," the Ambassador noted, emphasizing that both the Dutch government and society pay great attention to this investigation.

“Undoubtedly, this is one of the most important issues on the agenda in the Netherlands… This issue is constantly on the agenda of both the parliament and the government, and international cooperation is very intensive," the diplomat said.

"Apart from these five countries, which I have already mentioned, all the countries whose citizens were killed in the crash are actively involved. In particular, financial support for the investigation is also provided by these countries. These are global measures to bring individuals and the Russian Federation as a state to justice,” Chentsov summed up.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over occupied area of Donetsk region on July 17, 2014. There were 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board. All of them died. The international Joint Investigation Team reported that the plane had been shot down from a Buk missile system that belonged to the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces stationed in Kursk.

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