The Kremlin today rejected allegations by Western investigators that Russian President Vladimir Putin was directly involved in the downing of the MH17 passenger plane in eastern Ukraine in 2014.
The allegations that Putin decided to deploy a Buk weapons system in the Donbas are unfounded, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Russian news agency Interfax.
“Strong indications” of involvement
In July 2014, almost 300 people died when the plane was shot down. “Russia did not take part in the investigation in any way. Accordingly, we cannot accept the results, especially since no reasons were given for such statements,” said Peskow. According to investigators in the Netherlands, however, Russia refused to cooperate in the case.
An international team of investigators recently reported that tapped phone calls showed that Putin played an active role in the shooting down. There is “strong evidence” that Putin decided to provide the pro-Russian separatists with the Buk anti-aircraft missile, which was later used to shoot down the plane.
However, the investigators have no direct proof that Putin also approved the shooting down – not even against other suspects. The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was shot down by a Russian Buk anti-aircraft missile over a contested area in July 2014. All 298 people on board died.