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Roland Oliphant @RolandOliphant
, 30 tweets, 4 min read Read on Twitter
The #MH17 investigation is about to hold a press conference. Widely expected to make clear responsibility for the shoot down.
A reminder: Malaysian Airlines MH17 was en route from Amterdamn to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down over east Ukraine on July 17, 2014. All 298 on board were killed.
Previous conclusion: MH17 was downed by a BUK 9M38 series fired from Russian-backed separatist controlled territory
We know that the launch vehicle had arrived from Russia and returned across the border after the shoot down.
Today we're expecting further detail from the criminal investigation - i.e. who was crewing it and what was the chain of command.
This is a criminal investigation. So the point is assembling a dossier for prosecution. We're listening to hear if they name suspects (including individuals and governments).
Previously the JIT mentioned about 100 persons of interests. They now say they've made progress on this but will keep cards close to chest until court.
The BUK that shot down MH17 came from the Russian 53rd anti aircraft missile brigade based in Kursk.
JIT: our findings confirm that the BUK used originated from the 53rd Brigade of the Russian Federation.
A convoy left the 53rd's base towards the Ukrainian border on 23 June.
JIT: That convoy included the BUK launcher previously identified as that which shot down MH17. They list the "fingerprint" details of that vehicle.
They list seven such markings and they're doing it quite painstakingly to set out their case. Those markings only show in one BUK from dozens of Russian and Ukrainian vehicle examined
And its from the 53rd Brigade. So the JIT is accusing the Russian armed forces of complicity in the downing of MH17
"Now is the time to step forward if you have any more information." Questions: who was part of the team
Who instructed them?
Who was responsible for the deployment?
who can tell us more?
Quite. The Jennifer Hurst of Australian Federal Police takes the podium. She's going to talk about the type of Buk used.
NB - at this point they haven't explicitly said "it was a Russian crew commanded by Russian officers" at this point.
So the JIT reveal they recovered the exhaust of the missile from a Donbas field! It has a number showing it was built in 1986 in a factory in Moscow.
Fred Westerbeke again: MH17 Buk was of the RF 53rd brigade. Was the brigade itself involved? This is an important question we are still investigating.
Russia hasn't informed us that a BUK of the 53rd was in Ukraine. Etc. Appeals for more information. Ends.
In short: The BUK that shot down #MH17 came from and belonged to the Russian Army. They're not (yet) prepared to say the Russian army pulled the trigger.
Westerbeke: Prosecution, if and when it happens, will take place in a Dutch court. [since Russian vetoed a UN international tribunal]
Westerbeke: we asked Russia for information about the 53 Brigade and the convoy. No response. Today we also asked them about this rocket exhaust.
Interesting question: will you offer reduced sentences in exchange for information? Westerbeke says "yes". "Witness protection programs are offered"
Westerbeke: we are progressing in a good way. We are narrowing in on those responsible. "Confident" of concluding the investigation successfully.
Pasha Kanygin of @novaya_gazeta asks: do you have more than just video and picture evidence? Satellite images? Westerbeke: yes, but we're not going to reveal it now.
So. The JIT confirms Russian Army owned and supplied the BUK that downed. MH17. It did not explicitly blame @mod_russia for the shoot down. No suspects named.
That's the end.
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