According to international investigators, there are significant signs that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to provide the missile that brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014.
Over Ukraine, the airplane was struck by a Russian-made missile, killing approximately 300 passengers.
Prosecutors stated that there was proof that Mr. Putin decided to transfer heavy weapons to separatists supported by Moscow.
There is no evidence that Vladimir Putin ordered the plane to be shot down.
Russia denies any involvement in the plane’s destruction.
Wednesday, the prosecutors announced that they had exhausted all leads and were unable to pursue any further criminal procedures.
In July 2014, during a confrontation between pro-Russia rebels and Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region of Ukraine, a Boeing 777 en route from the Dutch capital to Kuala Lumpur was struck by a surface-to-air missile manufactured in Russia.
The majority of the 298 passengers and crew were from Malaysia, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Belgium, among other countries.
In a statement, the Joint Investigation Team reported that the court had found that Moscow had “total control” over the Donetsk People’s Republic, which governed the region in July 2014.
Russian officials said “military support resides with the President” in taped phone calls.
“There is evidence that the separatists’ request was brought to the president and that it was granted,” the document stated.
However, it is unknown if the request “explicitly names” the system that was used to shoot down MH17.
“Despite strong evidence, the high bar of comprehensive and clear proof has not been satisfied,” investigators said.
In addition, the President gets immunity in his capacity as the head of state.
The Joint Investigation Team is comprised of members from the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, and Ukraine, the nations most negatively impacted by the downing of MH17.
The team desired to establish the identity of the missile’s crew members and those in the chain of command but conceded that this is currently impossible.
Three individuals, two Russians, and one Ukrainian were found guilty of murder in absentia for their role in the downing of MH17 in a Dutch court in 2013.
These verdicts were deemed “scandalous” and politically driven by Moscow.
MH17 claimed the lives of Piet Ploeg’s brother, his brother’s wife, and his nephew. He expressed his satisfaction that the evidence of Mr. Putin’s involvement had been shown.
He told Reuters, “We cannot do anything with it; Putin cannot be convicted.” “It is evident that we wanted to discover who was ultimately responsible.”
It was a “deep disappointment” for Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte that there was insufficient evidence to warrant additional prosecutions.
However, he noted that the international team’s pronouncement did not signify the conclusion of the criminal justice process.
“Since 2014, the pattern of obstruction, untruths, and injustice from Russia and its ruler, Putin, has become all too familiar. We will continue to demand accountability from the Russian Federation for its role in this catastrophe “Mr. Rutte stated.
The European Court of Human Rights confirmed in January that it will hear a separate Dutch complaint against Russia for the downing of MH17.
