13:25 01.10.2016

Mogherini: investigation into downing of flight MH17 must be completed

2 min read
Mogherini: investigation into downing of flight MH17 must be completed

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini has said that it is crucial that by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) can complete its work to investigate into the tragedy of Malaysian flight MH17. She urges international society to continue supporting it.

"The JIT's work as regards individual suspects continues; it is crucial that the investigators can complete their work, independently and thoroughly. To ensure that those responsible for the downing of MH17 are held accountable and brought to justice, the criminal investigation needs the continuing support of the international community. All States that are in a position to assist the investigation and prosecution of those responsible must do so, as demanded by UN Security Council Resolution 2166," Mogherini said in a statement.

The interim results of the independent criminal investigation, presented by the JIT, demonstrate that important progress has been made, answering many questions that have borne heavily on those who lost their loved ones on 17 July 2014, she said.

"The European Union reiterates its full support for the work of the JIT and welcomes the progress made by the countries involved on an effective prosecution mechanism," Mogherini said.

It has been reported that the Malaysia Airlines Boeing-777 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala-Lumpur crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014. It had 298 people on board, all of whom died. There were 192 Dutch citizens (one of them had U.S. citizenship as well), 44 Malaysian citizens (including 15 crew members), 27 Australian citizens, 12 citizens of Indonesia, 10 British citizens (one also had citizenship of South Africa), four Germans, four Belgians, three citizens of Philippines, one Canadian and one citizen of New Zealand.

The JIT, comprising prosecutors and representatives of other law enforcement agencies of Ukraine, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and Malaysia, and also representatives of Eurojust, was created on August 7, 2014.

On September 28, 2016 the JIT presented the first results of the criminal investigation into the downing of MH17 flight in Donbas.

JIT have come to the conclusion that MH17 was shot down by a 9M38 series missile, launched from a Buk-Telar. This Buk-Telar was brought in from the territory of the Russian Federation, and after launch was subsequently returned to Russian Federation territory.

AD
AD
AD
AD
AD