2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over Ukraine
SCHIPHOL, Netherlands (AP) — A Dutch court on Thursday convicted two Russians and a pro-Moscow Ukrainian separatist in absentia of the murders of 298 people who died in the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine and sentenced them to life imprisonment. One Russian was acquitted because of a lack of evidence.
Presiding Judge Hendrik Steenhuis said that evidence presented by prosecutors at a trial that lasted more than two years proved that the Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was brought down by a Buk missile fired by pro-Moscow Ukrainian fighters on July 17, 2014. The crash scattered wreckage and bodies over farmland and fields of sunflowers.
Keep scrolling for photos from the scene of the 2014 crash
Against the geopolitical upheaval caused by Russia’s full-blown invasion of Ukraine, the court also held that Moscow had overall control of the separatist Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine, from where it said the attack was launched.
None of the defendants appeared for the trial that began in March 2020 and if they are convicted, it’s unlikely they will serve any sentence anytime soon. Prosecutors had sought life sentences for all four. Prosecutors and the suspects have two weeks to file an appeal.
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Presiding Judge Hendrik Steenhuis opened Thursday’s hearing and said “the court takes the view that the MH17 was brought down by a Buk missile” launched from an agricultural field in eastern Ukraine.
The judge said he would go on to rule on other legal issues and the guilt or innocence of the suspects later in the hearing.
Tension was high among families before the hearing.
“The truth on the table — that is the most important thing,” said Anton Kotte, who lost his son, daughter-in-law and his 6-year-old grandson when MH17 was shot down. He said the hearing was a “D-Day” for relatives. Full story:
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkraineDmitry Lovetsky
FILE - In this July 17, 2014, file photo, a woman with a child walks past the crash site of a passenger plane near the village of Grabovo, Ukraine. For many families of the 298 people killed when Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was brought down July 17, 2014 over eastern Ukraine, uncertainty and agonizing waiting is still woven into the fabric of their lives a year later. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky, File)
Dmitry LovetskyFILE - In this July 17, 2014, file photo, a woman with a child walks past the crash site of a passenger plane near the village of Grabovo, Ukraine. For many families of the 298 people killed when Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was brought down July 17, 2014 over eastern Ukraine, uncertainty and agonizing waiting is still woven into the fabric of their lives a year later. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky, File)
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkraineDmitry Lovetsky
FOR STORY UKRAINE MH17 WHERE THINGS STAND - FILE - In this Thursday, July 17, 2014 file photo, a man gestures at a crash site of a passenger plane near the village of Grabovo, Ukraine. A year since a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was blown out of the sky over war-ravaged eastern Ukraine, killing 298 people, there has been little definitive progress in determining what brought down Flight MH17. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky, file)
Dmitry LovetskyFOR STORY UKRAINE MH17 WHERE THINGS STAND - FILE - In this Thursday, July 17, 2014 file photo, a man gestures at a crash site of a passenger plane near the village of Grabovo, Ukraine. A year since a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was blown out of the sky over war-ravaged eastern Ukraine, killing 298 people, there has been little definitive progress in determining what brought down Flight MH17. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky, file)
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkrainePhil Nijhuis
Relatives of passengers on flight MH17 board a bus to be transported to an unknown location to receive more information, at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, Thursday, July 17, 2014. Ukraine said a passenger plane carrying 295 people was shot down Thursday as it flew over the country, and both the government and the pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region denied any responsibility for downing the plane. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
Phil NijhuisRelatives of passengers on flight MH17 board a bus to be transported to an unknown location to receive more information, at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, Thursday, July 17, 2014. Ukraine said a passenger plane carrying 295 people was shot down Thursday as it flew over the country, and both the government and the pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region denied any responsibility for downing the plane. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkraineLai Seng Sin
A girl holding a candle squats next to candles forming the letters MH17 during an event to mourn the victims of the crashed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, July 20, 2014. Rebels have recovered the black boxes from downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 and will hand them over to the International Civil Aviation Organization, a rebel leader said Sunday. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin)
Lai Seng SinA girl holding a candle squats next to candles forming the letters MH17 during an event to mourn the victims of the crashed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, July 20, 2014. Rebels have recovered the black boxes from downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 and will hand them over to the International Civil Aviation Organization, a rebel leader said Sunday. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin)
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkrainePhil Nijhuis
A relative of passengers on flight MH17 cries as he waits in a bus to receive more information, at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, Thursday, July 17, 2014. Ukraine said a passenger plane was shot down Thursday as it flew over the country, and both the government and the pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region denied any responsibility for downing the plane. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
Phil NijhuisA relative of passengers on flight MH17 cries as he waits in a bus to receive more information, at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, Thursday, July 17, 2014. Ukraine said a passenger plane was shot down Thursday as it flew over the country, and both the government and the pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region denied any responsibility for downing the plane. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkraineEvgeniy Maloletka
FOR STORY UKRAINE MH17 WHERE THINGS STAND - FILE - In this Saturday, July 19, 2014 file photo emergency workers carry the body of a victim at the crash site of a Malaysia Airlines jet near the village of Hrabove, eastern Ukraine. A year since a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was blown out of the sky over war-ravaged eastern Ukraine, killing 298 people, there has been little definitive progress in determining what brought down Flight MH17. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, file)
Evgeniy MaloletkaFOR STORY UKRAINE MH17 WHERE THINGS STAND - FILE - In this Saturday, July 19, 2014 file photo emergency workers carry the body of a victim at the crash site of a Malaysia Airlines jet near the village of Hrabove, eastern Ukraine. A year since a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was blown out of the sky over war-ravaged eastern Ukraine, killing 298 people, there has been little definitive progress in determining what brought down Flight MH17. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, file)
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkrainePhil Nijhuis
Relatives of passengers on flight MH17 board a bus to be transported to an unknown location, at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, Thursday, July 17, 2014. Ukraine said a passenger plane carrying 295 people was shot down Thursday as it flew over the country, and both the government and the pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region denied any responsibility for downing the plane. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
Phil NijhuisRelatives of passengers on flight MH17 board a bus to be transported to an unknown location, at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, Thursday, July 17, 2014. Ukraine said a passenger plane carrying 295 people was shot down Thursday as it flew over the country, and both the government and the pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region denied any responsibility for downing the plane. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkrainePatrick Post
FILE - In this Sunday, July 20, 2014 file photo, a photo of Steven Noreilde from Brasschaat, Belgium, a victim of flight MH17, lays next to a soccer shirt surrounded by flowers, at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. An international team of investigators says that detailed analysis of video images has established that the Buk missile that brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 nearly four years ago came from a Russia-based military unit. Wilbert Paulissen of the Dutch National Police said Thursday, May 24, 2018 that the missile was from the Russian military’s 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade based in the Russian city of Kursk. (AP Photo/Patrick Post, File)
Patrick PostFILE - In this Sunday, July 20, 2014 file photo, a photo of Steven Noreilde from Brasschaat, Belgium, a victim of flight MH17, lays next to a soccer shirt surrounded by flowers, at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. An international team of investigators says that detailed analysis of video images has established that the Buk missile that brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 nearly four years ago came from a Russia-based military unit. Wilbert Paulissen of the Dutch National Police said Thursday, May 24, 2018 that the missile was from the Russian military’s 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade based in the Russian city of Kursk. (AP Photo/Patrick Post, File)
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkraineDmitry Lovetsky
FILE - People inspect the crash site of a passenger plane near the village of Grabovo, Ukraine, on July 17, 2014. A Dutch court on Thursday is set to deliver verdicts in the long-running trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian rebel for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky, File)
Dmitry LovetskyFILE - People inspect the crash site of a passenger plane near the village of Grabovo, Ukraine, on July 17, 2014. A Dutch court on Thursday is set to deliver verdicts in the long-running trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian rebel for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky, File)
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkraineVadim Ghirda
FILE - Bodies of victims are placed in plastic sacks by the side of the road at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 near the village of Hrabove, eastern Ukraine, on July 19, 2014. A Dutch court on Thursday is set to deliver verdicts in the long-running trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian rebel for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
Vadim GhirdaFILE - Bodies of victims are placed in plastic sacks by the side of the road at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 near the village of Hrabove, eastern Ukraine, on July 19, 2014. A Dutch court on Thursday is set to deliver verdicts in the long-running trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian rebel for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkraineVadim Ghirda
FILE - Ukrainian miners carry the body of a victim at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 near the village of Hrabove, eastern Ukraine, on July 19, 2014. A Dutch court on Thursday is set to deliver verdicts in the long-running trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian rebel for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
Vadim GhirdaFILE - Ukrainian miners carry the body of a victim at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 near the village of Hrabove, eastern Ukraine, on July 19, 2014. A Dutch court on Thursday is set to deliver verdicts in the long-running trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian rebel for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkraineDmitry Lovetsky
FILE - Local citizens, background, look at the site of a crashed Malaysia Airlines passenger plane near the village of Rozsypne, Ukraine, eastern Ukraine on July 18, 2014. A Dutch court on Thursday is set to deliver verdicts in the long-running trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian rebel for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky, File)
Dmitry LovetskyFILE - Local citizens, background, look at the site of a crashed Malaysia Airlines passenger plane near the village of Rozsypne, Ukraine, eastern Ukraine on July 18, 2014. A Dutch court on Thursday is set to deliver verdicts in the long-running trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian rebel for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky, File)
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkrainePatrick Post
FILE - A picture of Bryce Fredriksz and his girlfriend Daisy Oehlers who died on flight MH17, is surrounded by flowers at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, on July 20, 2014. A Dutch court on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022 is set to deliver verdicts in the long-running trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian rebel for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Patrick Post, File)
Patrick PostFILE - A picture of Bryce Fredriksz and his girlfriend Daisy Oehlers who died on flight MH17, is surrounded by flowers at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, on July 20, 2014. A Dutch court on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022 is set to deliver verdicts in the long-running trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian rebel for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Patrick Post, File)
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkraineVadim Ghirda
FILE - A paramedic walks by a part of fuselage at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 near the village of Hrabove, eastern Ukraine, on July 19, 2014. A Dutch court on Thursday is set to deliver verdicts in the long-running trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian rebel for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
Vadim GhirdaFILE - A paramedic walks by a part of fuselage at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 near the village of Hrabove, eastern Ukraine, on July 19, 2014. A Dutch court on Thursday is set to deliver verdicts in the long-running trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian rebel for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkraineEvgeniy Maloletka
A doll is seen on the ground at the crash site of a Malaysia Airlines jet near the village of Hrabove, Russian-controlled Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, Saturday, July 19, 2014. A Dutch court is set to deliver verdicts Thursday in the trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian rebel for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine in 2014. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)
Evgeniy MaloletkaA doll is seen on the ground at the crash site of a Malaysia Airlines jet near the village of Hrabove, Russian-controlled Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, Saturday, July 19, 2014. A Dutch court is set to deliver verdicts Thursday in the trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian rebel for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine in 2014. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkraineEvgeniy Maloletka
The body of a passenger is partially visible as it lies in a chair at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 near the village of Hrabove, Russian-controlled Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, Saturday, July 19, 2014. A Dutch court is set to deliver verdicts Thursday in the trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian rebel for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine in 2014. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Evgeniy MaloletkaThe body of a passenger is partially visible as it lies in a chair at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 near the village of Hrabove, Russian-controlled Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, Saturday, July 19, 2014. A Dutch court is set to deliver verdicts Thursday in the trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian rebel for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine in 2014. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkraineEvgeniy Maloletka
FILE - Ukrainian emergency workers carry a victim's body in a bag, at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 near the village of Hrabove, Russian-controlled Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, Sunday, July 20, 2014. A Dutch court is set to deliver verdicts Thursday in the trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian rebel for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine in 2014. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)
Evgeniy MaloletkaFILE - Ukrainian emergency workers carry a victim's body in a bag, at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 near the village of Hrabove, Russian-controlled Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, Sunday, July 20, 2014. A Dutch court is set to deliver verdicts Thursday in the trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian rebel for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine in 2014. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkraineAP Photo/Peter Dejong, Pool
FILE - Judges and lawyers view the reconstructed wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, at the Gilze-Rijen military Airbase, southern Netherlands, on May 26, 2021.Â
AP Photo/Peter Dejong, PoolFILE - Judges and lawyers view the reconstructed wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, at the Gilze-Rijen military Airbase, southern Netherlands, on May 26, 2021.Â
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2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders in 2014 downing of MH17 flight over UkrainePhil Nijhuis
Arlette Schijns, center left, and Peter Langstraat, center, right, along with other lawyers of the victims arrive in court before the verdict session of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 trial at the high security court at Schiphol airport, near Amsterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. The Hague District Court, sitting at a high-security courtroom at Schiphol Airport, is passing judgment on three Russians and a Ukrainian charged in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine and the deaths of all 298 passengers and crew on board, against a backdrop of global geopolitical upheaval caused by Russia's full-blown invasion of Ukraine in February and the nearly nine-month war it triggered. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
Phil NijhuisArlette Schijns, center left, and Peter Langstraat, center, right, along with other lawyers of the victims arrive in court before the verdict session of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 trial at the high security court at Schiphol airport, near Amsterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. The Hague District Court, sitting at a high-security courtroom at Schiphol Airport, is passing judgment on three Russians and a Ukrainian charged in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine and the deaths of all 298 passengers and crew on board, against a backdrop of global geopolitical upheaval caused by Russia's full-blown invasion of Ukraine in February and the nearly nine-month war it triggered. (AP Photo/Phil Nijhuis)
