Start of the live blog
10 hours ago
First trial day
As of today, the first four suspects are on trial in the MH17 process: three Russians and one Ukrainian allegedly involved in the application for and delivery of the BUK installation with which the aircraft was shot down on 17 July 2014. This happened over the eastern part of Ukraine, where there was fighting between the army and pro-Russian rebels. All 298 occupants were killed, including 196 Dutchmen.
10 hours ago
Dutch lawyers
The hearing starts at 10.00 a.m. and is chaired by Judge Hendrik Steenhuis. He is known from the case against politician Geert Wilders. There are three public prosecutors, who previously led criminal investigations into war crimes. The four suspects are not there. At least one of them is sending lawyers: Sabine ten Doesschate and Boudewijn van Eijck, both from a large Dutch law firm that is also regularly hired by the police.
10 hours ago
A lot of national and foreign coverage
The lawsuit is attracting worldwide interest. Some 450 journalists from home and abroad have applied to report on the case. Only fifteen of them fit in the courtroom. The rest will follow the case close to the Schiphol Judicial Complex, where the trial will take place.
Reporter Mattijs van de Wiel is present at the hearing. "You can see the excitement of the big event that is about to begin," he says in the
NOS Radio 1 News. "Especially with the journalists. There's a lot of activity in the press center, a large temporary building set up especially for this case."
10 hours ago
Why the trial is held in the Netherlands
Why are three Russian and one Ukrainian suspect of an air disaster that took place over Eastern Ukraine being tried in the Netherlands? "Because they failed to set up a UN court," says reporter Mattijs van de Wiel. "Russia stopped that. Furthermore, the Netherlands took the lead in the investigation from day one and most of the victims are Dutch. That's why the case is being handled by Dutch judges."
9 hours ago
Next of kin also present
The next of kin of the victims of the air disaster can also visit the complex at Schiphol. "But the expectation is that most of those who want to follow it together, will go to the conference center in Nieuwegein," says reporter Mattijs van de Wiel. "That's the venue where they've met many times to be updated on the MH17 investigation."
9 hours ago
Investigation will continue anyway
Igor Girkin, Sergey Dobinsky, Oleg Pulatov and Leonid Khartschenko are on trial today. "The fact that the Netherlands starts the prosecution of four suspects, doesn't mean that the investigation is finished", says the leader of the Joint Investigation Team, Digna van Boetzelaer. The investigation will continue.
Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, Ukraine and the Netherlands officially extended their cooperation yesterday. Representatives of the countries also laid a wreath at the MH17 monument in Vijfhuizen. "I am especially relieved for the next of kin that the legal proceedings are now starting," says Van Boetzelaer.
9 hours ago
Names of all victims will be read out
At the beginning of the trial, the Public Prosecutor's Office will present the indictment. The Public Prosecutor accuses the four suspects of the shooting down of an aircraft and the murder of all occupants. The OM will read out the names of all 298 victims.
9 hours ago
These are the MH17 suspects
Nieuwsuur program made this portrait of the suspects:
Igor Girkin, nicknamed
The Gunner: between April and July 2014, the Russian leads the rebels in Slavyansk. On July 5, 2014, Girkin and his men withdraw to Donetsk, stronghold of the pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine. There he will take on the role of Minister of Defense of the areas occupied by separatists. He also has that position at the moment that flight MH17 is brought down. From overheard conversations it appears that he played a part in transporting the BUK. In August 2014, he was forced to leave the region.
Sergei Doebinski,
The Gloomy: Investigation of
Nieuwsuur shows that the Russian is in charge of a reconnaissance and espionage unit during the disaster with flight MH17. In 2014 Doebinsky leaves the region and leaves for Rostov. A high-ranking rebel commander tells
Nieuwsuur that Doebinsky was involved in extortion. He is said to have been forcibly evicted from the region.
Oleg Pulatov,
The Viper: according to overheard conversations, Moscow-born Pulatov is near the weapon at the moment of the shooting of flight MH17. At that moment he is the deputy of Doebinsky. On a website he claims that he was already at the crash site 20 minutes after the shooting. In 2015 he would have left the Donetsk region, but later he turns up in the rebel-controlled region of Loegansk. There he would have been arrested. His former boss would have mediated to get him released.
Leonid Chartshenko,
The Mole: in July 2014 the Ukrainian is the head of a spy unit in the southeast of the Donetsk region. According to the indictment made public by the Ukrainian authorities, Chartshenko was in the vicinity of the BUK and he is said to have reported to his highest boss, Doebinski, that they shot down a Ukrainian fighter plane.
These four men are not the ones who pressed the launch button or ordered the attack. Probably that responsibility is closer to, or even inside the Kremlin.
9 hours ago
No substantive discussion yet
The hearing's about to begin. "There will be no substantive examination of the case yet," says university lecturer in international criminal law Marieke de Hoon. "First the court will check who will turn up. For example, will the suspects send lawyers? If so, that means they're going to conduct a defense. If they don't show up, the court will have to see if they can be granted a defense in absentia." That means the proceedings can go ahead even if the defendants aren't there.
Incidentally, the suspects do not have to be present at the hearing. "In the Netherlands, as a suspect you do not have the duty to be present, but you do have the right. Every suspect is allowed to decide that himself."
9 hours ago
Twenty surviving relatives present
There are about twenty surviving relatives present at the criminal trial, says reporter Jeroen de Jager. Most of the next of kin, including people from Australia and Malaysia, are following the trial in Nieuwegein. Family investigators, the Public Prosecutor's Office and victim support are also present there.
According to Piet Ploeg, chairman of the Vliegramp MH17 Foundation, the feelings of the next of kin about the criminal trial vary. "The group is very diverse: some want to know the ins and outs, others would rather leave it behind."
These are also important days for Ploeg. "We're going to hear what happened, why the plane crashed and what Russia's role is." He wants to exercise his right to speak. That won't be possible until the end of the criminal trial, so it could take years. "I want the court and also the defendants to know what the impact of the downing of MH17 has been on our personal lives."
The suspects will not be in the room. "We want to look the suspects in the eye, but that's not the reality. We have to deal with it. We knew in advance that there was no chance of the suspects getting in front of the fence. But there will be justice."
9 hours ago
Two lawyers on behalf of Pulatov in the courtroom
In the courtroom are two lawyers on behalf of the accused Oleg Pulatov, together with a Russian colleague and an interpreter. Behind them a row of nine lawyers on behalf of the survivors of the crash. Furthermore, fifteen journalists, a sketcher and a number of relatives are seated in the room. In the Schiphol Judicial Complex there are also three video rooms where other interested parties can watch, including representatives of the countries participating in the Joint Investigation Team. There is also a video link to a location in Nieuwegein, where next of kin have gathered. The case is also broadcast in its entirety via a live stream.
9 hours ago
Plenary session open
Judge Steenhuis opened the hearing. "The crash of MH17 in Eastern Ukraine is the reason for this criminal case. Many have been looking forward to this day for a long time," he says. "In the terrible disaster, all 298 occupants were killed. This tragic loss of so many lives has led to reactions all over the world. It has enormous consequences for the families of the victims. The court will consider this in detail."
9 hours ago
Dutch language
The language of proceedings in the courtroom is Dutch, says the chairman of the court. Interested parties who do not speak Dutch, can follow the hearing via interpreters in English. The hearings will start at 10.00 a.m. and end at 5.00 p.m. every day this week.
9 hours ago
'Inventory nature'
The court explains who are sitting in the courtroom and what the criminal proceedings look like for the time being. "Because it would only become clear today whether a suspect would appear, these first few days have a stocktaking quality," explains the court president. "The purpose of this first stage of the trial is to assess the state of affairs."
Prior to the hearing, the court consulted with the public prosecutors and lawyers about the proceedings.
9 hours ago
Substantive discussion later
The court says that at the end of the year and the beginning of next year several weeks have been set aside for the substantive handling of the criminal case, but that it is still unclear how the trial actually will proceed and whether more time will be needed. "For next of kin it will undoubtedly be a difficult and emotional period," says the court. They will have the opportunity to speak in court at a later point in the trial.
The chair points out the rights of both victims and suspects. All four defendants are from abroad. If they want to defend themselves, they have to be assisted by a Dutch lawyer. Only they are authorized to operate in the Netherlands.
9 hours ago
Plenary session interrupted
Due to a technical problem, the court interrupted the hearing. The hearing will continue in half an hour.
[The live stream didn't function properly and headphones malfunctioned, according to reporter mattijs vd wiel]
9 hours ago
49 next of kin want speaking time
So far, 49 surviving relatives have come forward to speak in court at a later time. There are also 82 next of kin who would like to submit a written statement to the court about the consequences of the MH17 crash for them. For the time being, 84 surviving relatives are also submitting a claim for damages, the court reports.
8 hours ago
Live stream overloaded
The session was shut down because the live stream, on which people around the world watch, was overloaded. Also the headphones in the public gallery did not work.
8 hours ago
The session is resumed
The court president resumed the hearing and confirmed that there were problems with the live stream.
8 hours ago
Call for decency
The court president continues where he left off. He emphasizes that he will ensure a fair trial. He also asks the parties to the proceedings to treat each other with decency and respect. "Positions of the parties to the trial can be experienced as annoying or hurtful by others," he says. "Nevertheless, it is important that these points of view can be taken."
8 hours ago
Explanation of Dutch case law
Because of the great foreign interest, the court explains how a Dutch criminal lawsuit normally works. A lot is done in the Netherlands through writing. Unlike in other countries, experts and witnesses are usually not heard in public.
8 hours ago
Possible investigation wishes and defense in June
Before the trial began, the defense and the prosecution were in contact. The lawyers could not yet indicate what they would like to have gotten investigated further, because they only recently obtained the file. And because the 36,000 pages are in Dutch, they have not yet discussed the contents with their client Pulatov either. They have therefore asked to be allowed to submit any further investigation wishes in June, as well as any first defense. The court agreed.
8 hours ago
Judge: Pulatov informed of the accusation
Another formal point: district court chairman Steenhuis checks whether the summonses have reached the suspects. Oleg Pulatov (55) is the only one who sent lawyers. Through his Russian counsel Pulatov let it be known that he was not involved in the downing of the MH17 and would like to defend himself. The summons was issued to him, the court finds. "So he was aware of the trial and apparently chose not to be present".
8 hours ago
Girkin unreachable
The other three suspects have no defense.
The prosecutors did not succeed in issuing the summons to suspect Igor Girkin (49). On 30 December he should have received the documents at the court in Moscow, but he didn't appear.
A neighborhood policeman visited him at home, but the door was not opened. According to the neighbors, an elderly woman lived at that address. Attempts of the Public Prosecutor's Office in the Netherlands to reach him via Skype and e-mail also failed. He did, however, tell a Russian press agency that he would not appear and that the evidence against him was false.
8 hours ago
Man denied being Doebinski on the phone
Also the summons to Sergei Doebinski (57) didn't arrive. He was not at the address where he was supposed to live. Twice he didn't come to the court either, to receive the documents. Attempts to get in touch via Facebook, mail and Skype came to nothing. However, he did read an app and clicked on a link in an e-mail to a message from the Joint Investigation Team.
He also received a phone call. The man who answered the call denied being Doebinski, although detectives did recognize his voice. Doebinski too would have told the media that he saw the accusations and that he would not participate in the trial.
8 hours ago
Chartsjenko not contactable either
With the Ukrainian suspect Leonid Chartshenko (48) the issuing of the summons did not go much better. At the address where he would officially stay, the door was welded shut by the housing association. Residents said that he moved six years ago.
Letters were left in several places with information about the criminal case and the Public Prosecutor's Office tried to reach him in all sorts of ways. In an e-mail to Chartsjenko a link to information about the trial appeared to have been opened. Furthermore, family members were informed and the summons was extensively published in the media in Ukraine.
8 hours ago
Subpoenas correctly issued, session can continue
Cases against suspects who have not been subpoenaed can be dealt with as usual. The subpoenas were issued on time and correctly in Russia and Ukraine, the court finds.
Both Ukraine and Russia cooperated in the Dutch request for legal assistance. The documents were presented at the address where the suspects were registered.
The court believes that Doebinsky did see the letter to him. For Girkin and Chartshenko it's still a guess. But considering all the media attention, the court has no doubt that all suspects were aware of the case.
"It can also be expected that someone will then do his best to become aware of the accusations," said the judge. Would the suspects want to send an attorney at a later time, that is always allowed.
8 hours ago
The names of victims are read out
The chairman of the court asks the Public Prosecution Service to start the presentation. The public prosecutor now reads out the names of all 298 victims of the MH17 disaster.
7 hours ago
Names read out for minutes
Officer Dedy Woei-A-Tsoi finished reading the names, which took about twenty minutes. The names are in the indictment because, according to the prosecutor, these people were murdered.
Before, the Public Prosecutor pronounced what the four suspects are charged with. "They brought a deadly weapon to Eastern Ukraine and to the location where a BUK missile was fired that hit the MH17. They also arranged for the weapon to be removed afterwards."
The officer reiterated the official suspicion: causing the death and murder of all occupants of an aircraft. She then quietly read out the names of all 298 victims.
7 hours ago
Judge: moment of silence and reflection appropriate, session adjourned
According to the president of the court, a moment of "silence and reflection" is appropriate after reading out the names.
He suspends the session for lunch until 1:30 p.m.
7 hours ago
Next of kin preferred to applaud after reading out names
It took about 20 minutes to read out the names. For next of kin in the room an emotional moment. Impressive, according to the court. "The great silence in this hall when the names were mentioned makes that clear," said chairman Steenhuis.
Afterwards, next of kin raised their thumbs to the prosecutors and said they wanted to applaud.
6 hours ago
Lawyer next of kin: happy to continue trial
"What we've just heard is impressive. It shows the impact on Dutch society and families," said Peter Langstraat, speaking on behalf of nine lawyers from 398 surviving relatives.
Langstraat is satisfied that the trial is proceeding in an orderly fashion and can continue. "The defense could also have requested an adjournment, due to the large number of pages in the file and the fact that it has not all been translated for their client. Then perhaps it could already have finished today or tomorrow. Fortunately for the next of kin, that didn't happen."
Translated with
www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
