MH17: In Search of Justice

By Piet Ploeg
12/14/18

On July 17, 2014, I lost my brother, his wife and his son. They were among the 298 innocent victims who lost their lives that day in a cowardly and gruesome assault, when a Russian Buk missile shot down Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine. More than four years later, relatives of the victims are still being left out in the cold by Russia’s leadership. In the wake of the tragedy, the process of repatriating the bodies, identifying them and saying goodbye — to the extent that that is possible — has been lengthy and painful. It has been an ordeal to establish the exact course of events and the identities of those responsible. For many relatives, including me, this is an important part of coming to terms with this horrible event and our loss. The international community, too, was shocked. It needs to see that this inhumane act will not to go unpunished and that something like it will not happen again. Having stood on the sidelines for more than four years, a large group of relatives, myself included, can no longer stand by and watch. We want legal action. In November, we filed a lawsuit against Russia at the European Court of Human Rights. We did this because we want an independent legal body to issue a ruling on Russia’s role in the downing of MH17 and for justice to be served. The Dutch Safety Board and the investigative journalist collective Bellingcat had already proven the involvement of Ukrainian separatists and Russia in this heinous crime. The United Nations Security Council confirmed the JIT’s findings and has called upon Russia several times to admit its role.

Russia, however, denies all responsibility and has done nothing but obstruct the investigations by peddling alternative theories involving Ukraine, giving incorrect information or withholding it. We, the relatives, have become puppets in Russia’s geopolitical theater. Over and over again, the Russian authorities have rubbed salt in our wounds. Human remains are still being “found” in impossible locations, and only being returned to mourning relatives after endless bureaucracy. My own brother is one of two victims whose remains were never found. It shows that neither the Russian authorities nor the separatists have any respect for the sanctity of human life or the victims’ relatives. We, therefore, have no choice but to take legal action against the Russian state so that justice will triumph and to honor the memory of those we love. In 2019, we will commemorate our loved ones for the fifth time and look back on five difficult years. We know here will be many more years of complicated legal procedures before justice triumphs. Why? Because states like Russia are too proud and stubborn to admit to their mistakes at the expense of the victims and their relatives, despite the international community’s indignation. I still believe that an independent investigation will eventually result in a verdict issued by an independent Dutch court, with or without the suspects present. The world must know who is responsible for this tragedy. The only thing that can make the deaths of our loved ones any worse is if no lessons are learned.

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Rogue Valley said:

MH17: In Search of Justice | The Moscow Times

Russian disinformation regarding the MH17 shoot-down by a Russian BUK missile team.



After Russia vetoed the creation of a MH17 UN investigative tribunal, the Dutch Safety Board (DSB) and the Joint Investigative Team (JIT) independently arrived at the overwhelming conclusion that the BUK missile (9M38 series) that downed Malaysian Flight MH17 killing all 298 onboard was fired by a Russian crew of the 53rd Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade which had traveled from Kursk, Russia to a farm near Pervomaisk, occupied eastern Ukraine. Investigators have identified over 100 persons involved in the transport and firing of the BUK missile. Moscow still denies any and all complicity in this needless and brutal slaughter of men, women, and children.

Related: The Long Legal Path to Bringing Russia to Justice Over MH17

Click to expand...

Rogue Valley said:

MH17: In Search of Justice | The Moscow Times

Russian disinformation regarding the MH17 shoot-down by a Russian BUK missile team.



After Russia vetoed the creation of a MH17 UN investigative tribunal, the Dutch Safety Board (DSB) and the Joint Investigative Team (JIT) independently arrived at the overwhelming conclusion that the BUK missile (9M38 series) that downed Malaysian Flight MH17 killing all 298 onboard was fired by a Russian crew of the 53rd Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade which had traveled from Kursk, Russia to a farm near Pervomaisk, occupied eastern Ukraine. Investigators have identified over 100 persons involved in the transport and firing of the BUK missile. Moscow still denies any and all complicity in this needless and brutal slaughter of men, women, and children.

Related: The Long Legal Path to Bringing Russia to Justice Over MH17

Click to expand...