DISINFO: MH17 investigation is deliberately delayed

The report advances recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about the downing of flightMH17 and the subsequent Joint International Investigation and criminal trial at the Dutch criminal tribunal. The purpose of the criminal investigation is to establish the facts of the case, determine the truth of what happened, identify those responsible for downing flight MH17 and gather criminal evidence for prosecution. The MH17 criminal proceedings are regulated according tothe Dutch Code of Criminal Procedure. The proceedings is coordinated by the Dutch Public Prosecution Service that leads the investigation and monitors whether the investigation is conducted carefully and fairly. Only the public prosecutor decides if and when a case will be brought before the court. Therefore, the case could be brought before the court only when all relevant information is gathered, evidence collected, and suspects identified. Taking into consideration the international character of the disaster, the JIT was established to conduct thecriminal inquiry. The JIT comprises officials from the Dutch Public Prosecution Service and the Dutch police, along with police and criminal justice authorities from Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, and Ukraine. The Joint Investigation Team collected forensic evidence from debris, soil samples, taped phone conversations and other evidence. Full description of how the investigation was conducted is available in theJIT's report. The investigation is operated in accordance with the standards and recommended practices in ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) Annex 13. The state of of occurrence (Ukraine) has delegated the investigation to the Dutch Safety Board. To this end, agreements were set out in a Memorandum of Understanding between Ukraine and The Netherlands, and in anagreement between the Ukrainian National Bureau of Incidents and Accidents Investigation of Civil Aircraft (NBAAII) and the Dutch Safety Board. The Dutch Safety Board is leading the investigation and co-ordinating the international team of investigators. In March 2020,the first three sessions of the court took place. In later March the court decided to suspend the trial to give defence lawyers more time to prepare. The hearings were resumed in June 2020. In the opening session, held on 9 March 2020, the public prosecutor has brought charges against the four suspects and provided an explanation of the case to the court. On 8 June, when the hearings were resumed, the prosecutors presented the various investigations and explained how these were conducted. Prosecutors also presentedinvestigation of telecommunications, radar and satellite data, explained the main and alternative scenarios. It is not yet known how long the tril will last. The duration of a trial depends on many different factors, such as the number of defendants, whether they attend the hearings, the nature of the crime, and what investigative activities the defence wishes to be carried out. The legal aspects of the trial are explained here. See more disinformation cases on MH17.