DISINFO: Volodymyr Tsemakh was released because he ceased to be of interest to international investigators and Ukraine
SUMMARY
Tsemakh was released due to the fact that he ceased to be of interest to the JIT and Ukraine.
RESPONSE
New narrative in the recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about the downing of Flight MH17. In fact, the Netherlands Prosecutor's Office, as well as the Joint Investigative Group, stated that they would like to talk with Volodymyr Tsemakh as part of the investigation of the MH17 case. Also, there are no statements from the Ukrainian prosecutor's office that Volodymyr Tsemakh has ceased to be of interest to the investigation. Indeed, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office objected to Mr Tsemakh's release, saying that he would not be safe. "We believed that detention was the only possible preventive measure for Mr Tsemakh. His life might be threatened," said spokesman Oleh Peresada. Ferd Grapperhaus, the Netherlands justice minister, said the release was "nasty news" and urged Ukrainian authorities to reverse the decision. He said the Dutch government was only notified of the decision shortly before the release order was delivered. In addition, in a commentary on Radio Liberty, the speaker of the international Joint Investigative Group, Brechtje van de Moosdijk, stated that Tsemakh was "a person of interest for the investigation" for them. “We wanted to talk to him, but now it will be difficult. I would like him to stay in Ukraine so that we can talk with him,” said the representative of the JIT. Further debunking by StopFake.