Hopes for justice fade as relatives mourn 10th anniversary of MH17 downing
ADVERTISEMENT

Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!
Hopes for justice fade as relatives mourn 10th anniversary of MH17 downing
Agence France-Presse
Published Jul 17, 2024 11:17 AM PHT
|
Updated Jul 18, 2024 12:45 AM PHT

A local resident stands among the wreckage at the site of the crash of Malaysia Airlines MH17 aircraft carrying 298 people from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur at Grabove, in rebel-held east Ukraine on July 19, 2014. The families of the victims of the downing of flight MH17 in war-torn eastern Ukraine are this week commemorating ten years since the tragedy, with dwindling hopes of seeing those responsible behind bars. Alexander Khudoteply, AFP

As relatives gather on Wednesday to mourn victims on the 10th anniversary of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, hopes are fading that those responsible for shooting down the plane will soon be behind bars.
As relatives gather on Wednesday to mourn victims on the 10th anniversary of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, hopes are fading that those responsible for shooting down the plane will soon be behind bars.
Russia has refused to extradite three men convicted by a Dutch court, and last year international investigators suspended their work, saying there was not enough evidence to prosecute more suspects.
Russia has refused to extradite three men convicted by a Dutch court, and last year international investigators suspended their work, saying there was not enough evidence to prosecute more suspects.
"I don't think those responsible will serve their sentences," said Evert van Zijtveld, who lost his daughter Frederique, 19, his son Robert-Jan, 18, as well as his parents-in-law.
"I don't think those responsible will serve their sentences," said Evert van Zijtveld, who lost his daughter Frederique, 19, his son Robert-Jan, 18, as well as his parents-in-law.
On Wednesday, hundreds of relatives as well as government representatives and dignitaries are expected at an event at a memorial park near Schiphol airport where the doomed flight took off on a bright summer's day on July 17, 2014.
On Wednesday, hundreds of relatives as well as government representatives and dignitaries are expected at an event at a memorial park near Schiphol airport where the doomed flight took off on a bright summer's day on July 17, 2014.
ADVERTISEMENT
Hours later the Boeing 777 jet was shot down by a Russian-made BUK surface-to-air missile over eastern Ukraine, as it passed on a flight line toward Kuala Lumpur. All 298 people on board were killed.
Hours later the Boeing 777 jet was shot down by a Russian-made BUK surface-to-air missile over eastern Ukraine, as it passed on a flight line toward Kuala Lumpur. All 298 people on board were killed.
The memorial will be broadcast live on national television from 1:30 p.m. while many of the Netherlands' main cities said they will fly the Dutch flag at half-mast on the day.
The memorial will be broadcast live on national television from 1:30 p.m. while many of the Netherlands' main cities said they will fly the Dutch flag at half-mast on the day.
Several speakers will make statements and the names of all the victims will be read, the organisers said.
Several speakers will make statements and the names of all the victims will be read, the organisers said.
The victims came from at least 10 countries, with 196 of them Dutch, 43 Malaysian and 38 Australian.
The victims came from at least 10 countries, with 196 of them Dutch, 43 Malaysian and 38 Australian.
Memorials are also planned elsewhere, including a service in the Australian parliament.
Memorials are also planned elsewhere, including a service in the Australian parliament.
ADVERTISEMENT
A Dutch court in November 2022 sentenced in absentia three men to life imprisonment for their roles in bringing down the plane over separatist-held pro-Russian territory, during the early stages of a war that saw Moscow seize the Crimean peninsula.
A Dutch court in November 2022 sentenced in absentia three men to life imprisonment for their roles in bringing down the plane over separatist-held pro-Russian territory, during the early stages of a war that saw Moscow seize the Crimean peninsula.
Russians Igor Girkin and Sergei Dubinsky and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko could all be held responsible for the transport of the BUK missile from a military base in Russia and deploying it to the launch site, the judges said -- even if they did not launch the missile themselves.
Russians Igor Girkin and Sergei Dubinsky and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko could all be held responsible for the transport of the BUK missile from a military base in Russia and deploying it to the launch site, the judges said -- even if they did not launch the missile themselves.
None of the guilty suspects took part in the legal proceedings or acknowledged their roles in the incident.
None of the guilty suspects took part in the legal proceedings or acknowledged their roles in the incident.
A fourth man, Oleg Pulatov, was acquitted.
A fourth man, Oleg Pulatov, was acquitted.
Though international investigators have suspended their work, they concluded there were "strong indications" that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the supply of the missile that downed the plane.
Though international investigators have suspended their work, they concluded there were "strong indications" that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the supply of the missile that downed the plane.
ADVERTISEMENT
Russia has denied any involvement and dismissed the 2022 court verdict as "scandalous" and politically motivated.
Russia has denied any involvement and dismissed the 2022 court verdict as "scandalous" and politically motivated.
The European Union however on Tuesday called upon Moscow to "accept its responsibility in this tragedy and cooperate fully in serving justice."
The European Union however on Tuesday called upon Moscow to "accept its responsibility in this tragedy and cooperate fully in serving justice."
The evidence presented during the MH17 trial "makes it abundantly clear that the BUK surface-to-air missile system used to bring down flight MH17 belonged beyond doubt to the armed forces of the Russian Federation," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.
The evidence presented during the MH17 trial "makes it abundantly clear that the BUK surface-to-air missile system used to bring down flight MH17 belonged beyond doubt to the armed forces of the Russian Federation," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.
Moscow has refused to extradite any of the suspects, saying it is illegal under Russian law.
Moscow has refused to extradite any of the suspects, saying it is illegal under Russian law.
"The invasion of Ukraine and the escalation of the war has made that really difficult to believe that any of them will be arrested soon," van Zijtveld told AFP ahead of the memorial, referring to the war against Ukraine launched by Russia in February 2022.
"The invasion of Ukraine and the escalation of the war has made that really difficult to believe that any of them will be arrested soon," van Zijtveld told AFP ahead of the memorial, referring to the war against Ukraine launched by Russia in February 2022.
FROM THE ARCHIVES:
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT