NOS News - Domestic - today, 14:43
'I have nothing to do with disaster on July 17, 2014', MH17 suspect said in last word
On the final day of court hearings in the MH17 trial, suspect Oleg Pulatov, strongly criticized the Public Prosecutor's Office, which he said has done everything in its power to falsely accuse him of downing the plane.
"The prosecutor's goal is not to find out the truth, but to achieve a conviction regardless," he said in a video message shown at the Justice Complex near Schiphol Airport. As a defendant, the 55-year-old Pulatov had the last word in the trial today, before the court rules at the end of the year.
"I have nothing at all to do with the disaster on July 17, 2014," Pulatov said. According to the former rebel commander, the prosecution selectively used contradictory witness statements and withheld important information. Statements by experts he called "unprofessional and inaccurate."
'Heavy burden'
According to Pulatov, despite seven years of criminal investigation, it has not become clear what exactly happened. Yet the prosecution has "baseless proclaimed to the whole world that I am guilty of the murder of 298 people." Pulatov called this a "heavy burden," causing both himself and his family to suffer "enormous immaterial damage."
Pulatov called on the court to acquit him and clear his name. "For me, it is important that my country is not held guilty of this tragedy," the Russian defendant said. He began his video message by expressing his condolences to the bereaved families.
Murder
In addition to Pulatov, two other Russians and a Ukrainian are also standing trial in the MH17 trial. They all held leadership positions in rebel groups that fought against the Ukrainian army in 2014.
According to the prosecution, the men were responsible for secretly arranging, using and removing a BUK missile installation from the Russian army. The investigation shows that the Malaysia Airlines plane was shot down with it. The prosecution is charging the murder of all 298 occupants of the passenger aircraft.
In December, the prosecution demanded life sentences against the suspects, of whom only Pulatov is represented by lawyers. They too want an acquittal. The defense finds the investigation too one-sided, says it is not certain that MH17 was hit with a Russian BUK missile and argues that Pulatov had no involvement whatsoever.
Today the lawyers brought up again that the downing of MH17 was probably accidental. In addition to the fact that it is not known who pressed the firing button, they say the exact principals also remain unclear. "There was no plan to bring down a plane on July 17, 2014," they said.
Yesterday, Pulatov's lawyers were also critical of an interactive website of the prosecutor's office, where the prosecutor's reading of the case is explained with many details from the file. Thereby their client's right to a fair trial was violated, the lawyers said. The court also said it was surprised by the publication.
Never apprehended
It was never possible to apprehend the four suspects in the MH17 case. They reside in Russia, which denies any involvement in the disaster and does not extradite nationals. Therefore, the trial is being conducted without them.
The MH17 trial began over two years ago. In September, nearly 100 relatives spoke in court about the loss of their loved ones and the suffering caused by the downing of MH17. The court today called that once more an impressive part of the case.
After the summer, the court hopes to announce the verdict date. In addition to deputy commander Pulatov, rebel leader Igor Girkin, his deputy Sergei Dubinsky and battalion commander Leonid Khartshenko are also on trial.
Translated with
www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
I am listening to Russian 24 news, and right now they announced breaking news, that Malaysia Airlines plane crushed on it's way toward Russian territory. But it fell before crossing the border on the Ukrainian territory. There were over 200 people there. But the reporter said, that the news are still unconfirmed. And there is nothing on the net yet.
