An international investigative team is claiming that they have convincing evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decision allowing Russian missile systems to enter Ukraine.
Based on a report by Bangkok Post, the team shared that the BUK-TELAR missile system was the one used to shoot down MH17, which was traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014.
The information was shared to the prosecution team in the Netherlands on Wednesday (February 8) after obtaining the statement from the team investigating the MH17 incident.
However, it appears that due to the evidence being insufficient to prosecute him or the other suspects (2 Russian nationals and a Ukraine national) and Putin having immunity as a head of state, the team’s investigation will be coming to an end after 8 long years.
“There are strong indications that a decision was made at presidential level, by President Putin, to supply the DPR (Donetsk People’s Republic) with the Buk TELAR missile system. Although we speak of strong indications, the high bar of complete and conclusive evidence is not reached.”
“The President of the Russian Federation enjoys, at the very least, immunity under international law in view of his position as head of state. Only after he is head of state we can take a look into what’s next,” shared Dutch prosecutor Digna van Boetzelaer at The Hague.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte added that the decision was a “bitter disappointment” and that they will “continue to call the Russian Federation to account for its role in this tragedy“.
Russia has also remained insistent that they were not involved in the downing of MH17.
Do stay tuned for more updates.
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