Prosecutor General's Office Ukraine urges witnesses to report regard..

14 december 2016 - Landelijk Parket

Today Ukrainian dep. Prosecutor General Storozhuk urged witnesses to come forward who have information regarding the downing of flight MH17 on the 17th of July 2014. The witness call was especially focused on the so-called `insider- witnesses': persons who were directly or indirectly involved
in the transport or the launch of the BUK-missile that downed flight MH17.

On 28 September this year the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) concluded that flight MH17 was shot down by a missile of the 9M38 series, launched by a BUK-TELAR, from farmland in the vicinity of Pervomaiskyi. The BUK-TELAR was brought in from the territory of the Russian Federation and
subsequently, after having shot down flight MH-17, was taken back to the Russian Federation.

Furthermore the JIT announced that approximately 100 persons are identified who in one way or the other can be linked to the crash of flight MH17 or the transport of the BUK. This concerns people who have played an active role in getting hold of the BUK-TELAR and organizing the transport to
the launch location. There are also persons who had a facilitating or supporting role. This group includes the people who escorted the transport of the BUK-TELAR. These persons are not automatically suspects.

Storozhuk stated that the JIT would like to get into contact with (insider-) witnesses. Ukrainian law provides for lower sentences, and in certain circumstances relief from criminal liability, for those who cooperate with the investigation. Moreover, there are various protective measures that
can be taken if a person would like to make a statement, for instance regarding the location of an interview, the identity of the witness can be shielded or protected or - in exceptional cases - admission in a witness protection scheme could be a possibility.

Storozhuk also pointed at the previous witness call of the JIT to gain more information about several wire tapped conversations that are placed on the website www.jitmh17.com. Two participants of these conversations are known under the aliases `Orion' and/or `Delfin'. The JIT would like to
get into contact with persons who know more about the people behind these aliases.

You can find more information on the website www.jitmh17.com

Deel dit op

*