Malaysian Prime minister Mahathir Mohamad on Thursday said Russia is being made a scapegoat in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, and questioned the objectivity of the investigations into the fatal incident five years ago.

Malaysia's Mahathir Claims Political Ploy To Pin MH17 Downing On Russia

International investigators are set on Wednesday (June 19) to launch criminal proceedings against suspects in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine nearly five years ago.

Netherlands set to prosecute suspects in MH17 airliner downing

Ukraine accused Russia on Tuesday of doing nothing to prevent what it called pro-Moscow separatists' "acts of terrorism" in eastern Ukraine, including the 2014 downing of a Malaysia Airlines flight. Ukraine's deputy foreign minister Olena Zerkal made the claim before judges at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on the second day of arguments in a case brought by Kyiv against Moscow.

On Monday, Russia argued that Ukraine had failed to present any new evidence against it and called on the court to dismiss the case. Zerkal responded on Tuesday by blaming Russia for failing to prevent deadly violence in Ukraine.

"Did it stop the financing of terrorism in Ukraine? No. Did it help us find the authors of terrorist acts? No," she said.

"Result? Flight MH17 was shot down. There have been bomb attacks, rockets have fallen in residential districts. Hundreds of people have been killed or wounded, thousands have been intimidated."

The destruction of flight MH17 killed all 298 people on board the civilian airliner. Ukraine launched the case against Russia in 2017 under international laws on the financing of terrorism. It is seeking damages for attacks against civilians it says the separatists have carried out in eastern Ukraine, including the downing of flight MH17.

It says Moscow supplied the BUK surface-to-air missile system used to shoot down the flight, something Russia has repeatedly denied. On Monday, Russia argued that the ICJ had no jurisdiction in the case.

Zerkal argued on Tuesday: "Russia denies what the whole world knows. It is seeking to clear itself of its responsibility." Hearings in the case will continue until Friday. The conflict in eastern Ukraine started five years ago and has so far claimed 13,000 lives, according to UN estimates.

Ukraine accused Russia on Tuesday of doing nothing to prevent what it called pro-Moscow separatists' "acts of terrorism" in eastern Ukraine, including the 2014 downing of a Malaysia Airlines flight.

Ukraine accused Russia on Tuesday of doing nothing to prevent what it called pro-Moscow separatists' "acts of terrorism" in eastern Ukraine, including the 2014 downing of a Malaysia Airlines flight. Ukraine's deputy foreign minister Olena Zerkal made the claim before judges at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on the second day of arguments in a case brought by Kyiv against Moscow. On Monday, Russia argued that Ukraine had failed to present any new evidence against it and called on the court to dismiss the case. Zerkal responded on Tuesday by blaming Russia for failing to prevent deadly violence in Ukraine. "Did it stop the financing of terrorism in Ukraine? No. Did it help us find the authors of terrorist acts? No," she said. "Result? Flight MH17 was shot down. There have been bomb attacks, rockets have fallen in residential districts. Hundreds of people have been killed or wounded, thousands have been intimidated." The destruction of flight MH17 killed all 298 people on board the civilian airliner. Ukraine launched the case against Russia in 2017 under international laws on the financing of terrorism. It is seeking damages for attacks against civilians it says the separatists have carried out in eastern Ukraine, including the downing of flight MH17. It says Moscow supplied the BUK surface-to-air missile system used to shoot down the flight, something Russia has repeatedly denied. On Monday, Russia argued that the ICJ had no jurisdiction in the case. Zerkal argued on Tuesday: "Russia denies what the whole world knows. It is seeking to clear itself of its responsibility." Hearings in the case will continue until Friday. The conflict in eastern Ukraine started five years ago and has so far claimed 13,000 lives, according to UN estimates.

Ukraine accuses Russia of failing to stop terrorism

Russia on Tuesday rejected calls at the United Nations to accept responsibility for the downing of Flight MH17 over Ukraine after an investigation found that a Russian army missile was used in the attack.

At a Security Council meeting on Ukraine, Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok called on Moscow to accept the findings that the airliner was shot down by a Russian-made BUK missile provided by a brigade based in the Russian city of Kursk.

"The language of ultimatums is not something that anyone will be allowed to use when speaking to Russia," Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council meeting.

"We cannot accept the unfounded conclusion of the JIT", the Dutch-led Joint investigation Team, he added.

All 298 people on the Malaysia Airlines flight en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur were killed when the missile slammed into the plane as it flew over territory held by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine in July 2014.

Responding to Nebenzia, the Dutch foreign minister said his arguments were "nothing new" and again urged Russia to work with the Netherlands and Australia to identify the perpetrators.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley voiced strong support for the Dutch and Australian call on Russia to acknowledge its role in the tragedy and help bring to account those responsible for the shooting down.

"Despite its transparent denials, there is no doubt Russia is driving the Ukrainian conflict," said Haley.

More than 10,000 people have been killed since the Moscow-backed insurgency broke out in April 2014 following Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin told the council that Russia's rejection of the findings "did not surprise me at all."

"We have no doubt that the downing of MH17 flight is a terrorist act," he said.&nbsp

Ukraine will present documents to the International Court of Justice next month showing that Russia is violating anti-terrorism agreements, he said.

Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz renewed his call for a peacekeeping mission to be deployed to east Ukraine and urged Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a UN special envoy for Ukraine.

Diplomats say Russia, a veto-wielding power at the council, has blocked attempts to step up UN involvement in efforts to end the conflict.

Russia on Tuesday rejected calls at the United Nations to accept responsibility for the downing of Flight MH17 over Ukraine after an investigation found that a Russian army missile was used in the attack

Russia on Tuesday rejected calls at the United Nations to accept responsibility for the downing of Flight MH17 over Ukraine after an investigation found that a Russian army missile was used in the attack. At a Security Council meeting on Ukraine, Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok called on Moscow to accept the findings that the airliner was shot down by a Russian-made BUK missile provided by a brigade based in the Russian city of Kursk. "The language of ultimatums is not something that anyone will be allowed to use when speaking to Russia," Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council meeting. "We cannot accept the unfounded conclusion of the JIT", the Dutch-led Joint investigation Team, he added. All 298 people on the Malaysia Airlines flight en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur were killed when the missile slammed into the plane as it flew over territory held by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine in July 2014. Responding to Nebenzia, the Dutch foreign minister said his arguments were "nothing new" and again urged Russia to work with the Netherlands and Australia to identify the perpetrators. US Ambassador Nikki Haley voiced strong support for the Dutch and Australian call on Russia to acknowledge its role in the tragedy and help bring to account those responsible for the shooting down. "Despite its transparent denials, there is no doubt Russia is driving the Ukrainian conflict," said Haley. More than 10,000 people have been killed since the Moscow-backed insurgency broke out in April 2014 following Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin told the council that Russia's rejection of the findings "did not surprise me at all." "We have no doubt that the downing of MH17 flight is a terrorist act," he said. Ukraine will present documents to the International Court of Justice next month showing that Russia is violating anti-terrorism agreements, he said. Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz renewed his call for a peacekeeping mission to be deployed to east Ukraine and urged Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a UN special envoy for Ukraine. Diplomats say Russia, a veto-wielding power at the council, has blocked attempts to step up UN involvement in efforts to end the conflict.

Russia comes under fire at UN over MH17 downing

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Malaysia's Mahathir Claims Political Ploy To Pin MH17 Downing On Russia

Netherlands set to prosecute suspects in MH17 airliner downing

Ukraine accuses Russia of failing to stop terrorism

Russia comes under fire at UN over MH17 downing