The prospect of identifying those in the Russian military who shot down MH17 and their political bosses just got a lot stronger.
In Euromaidan Press I had written about Russia's attempts to discredit the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) investigation to identify those responsible for shooting down Malaysia Flight MH17, killing 298 people, and “gathering criminal evidence for prosecution.” I had written,
...Despite Russia’s categorical denial of the facts, the well-advanced JIT investigation [and indictment by The Netherlands on June 19 for complicity of three Ukrainian and one Russian nationals] is on the verge of naming the Russian military officers and their political superiors who are responsible for downing MH17. At that point, Russia’s invasion of eastern Ukraine will be incontrovertible, even if already we know enough that Russia’s involvement is undeniable. There will then be more significant indictments close to or up to the Kremlin, as well as the real possibility of additional sanctions.
Now, Bellingcat.com, an independent, open-source and social media investigation group, has an excellent report on the capture of a Ukrainian national, Vladimir Tsemakh, in Russia-occupied Ukraine who was present during and likely involved in the handling of the BUK missile launcher that shot down MH17. Read here,
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2019/07/09/the-arrest-of-vladimir-tsemakh-and-its-implications-for-the-mh17-investigation/
Bellingcat.com writes,
In Euromaidan Press I had written about Russia's attempts to discredit the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) investigation to identify those responsible for shooting down Malaysia Flight MH17, killing 298 people, and “gathering criminal evidence for prosecution.” I had written,
...Despite Russia’s categorical denial of the facts, the well-advanced JIT investigation [and indictment by The Netherlands on June 19 for complicity of three Ukrainian and one Russian nationals] is on the verge of naming the Russian military officers and their political superiors who are responsible for downing MH17. At that point, Russia’s invasion of eastern Ukraine will be incontrovertible, even if already we know enough that Russia’s involvement is undeniable. There will then be more significant indictments close to or up to the Kremlin, as well as the real possibility of additional sanctions.
Now, Bellingcat.com, an independent, open-source and social media investigation group, has an excellent report on the capture of a Ukrainian national, Vladimir Tsemakh, in Russia-occupied Ukraine who was present during and likely involved in the handling of the BUK missile launcher that shot down MH17. Read here,
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2019/07/09/the-arrest-of-vladimir-tsemakh-and-its-implications-for-the-mh17-investigation/
Bellingcat.com writes,
"Whatever his actual role on 17 July 2014, Tsemakh’s arrest may have a significant impact on the JIT investigation and the pending court procedure. If his 2015 claims that he helped to hide the Buk missile launcher and part of its crew on 17 July 2014 turn out to be true, this would make him a key witness to JIT, and possibly an indicted suspect on counts of complicity and obstruction. Even if he was exaggerating his role on the day of the downing, in his position as local anti-aircraft unit commander he would have been well informed to make him a valuable witness to the prosecution.
...
"Tsemakh’s testimony in court would strengthen the legitimacy of the court proceedings, as it is so far not known that another person of interest with direct involvement in DNR’s military operations at the time and place of the downing has been detained. A person with his prior role will be able to shed light not only on the specific event on the day of the downing, but also on the chain of command, which will be a crucial line of inquire for the Dutch courts."
Establishing in a court of law Russia's culpability in shooting down MH17 will establish also Russia's instigation and conduct of the war in eastern Ukraine. It will establish beyond a doubt the Russian state's use of lies, deceit, fraud and disinformation as state policy, and Russia as a dangerous rogue state.
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