Russia on Thursday (February 9) responded to the claims made by the international prosecutors that there were "strong indications" that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the supply of missile that shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, which killed all on board.&nbsp;

Dismissing the allegations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia "could not accept" the results of the probe that the nation was involved. Peskov also said that the investigators had not publicly presented evidence to support their claims.&nbsp;

A total of 298 passengers and crew members were killed when MH17 was shot down while flying over eastern Ukraine from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. The incident took place at a time when the Russian-backed separatists were fighting Ukrainian forces for control over the eastern Donbas region.

The prosecutors cited intercepted phone calls but noted that there wasn't conclusive evidence that would link the direct involvement of Putin or other Russian officials. Hence, they couldn't pursue a criminal conviction and had to halt their probe.&nbsp;

WATCH | Investigators end MH17 downing probe despite 'indications' of Putin's involvement&nbsp;

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Earlier also Russia had denied any direct or indirect involvement in the crash and now Peskov on Thursday dismissed the evidence which had been presented by investigators.

Peskov told reporters: "We know that a recording of a supposed phone call was published...in which not a single word is said about weapons. Even assuming that this conversation is real...there is not one word about weapons. Nobody has published anything else, so it's impossible to say anything."&nbsp;

Peskov was asked specifically about the claim that Putin approved the delivery of BUK missile systems. He replied, "Russia did not take part in this investigation, so we cannot accept these results – especially since no basis for these statements has been made public."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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Russia on Thursday (February 9) responded to the claims made by the international prosecutors that there were "strong indications" that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the supply of missile that shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, which killed all on board.

Russia on Thursday (February 9) responded to the claims made by the international prosecutors that there were "strong indications" that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the supply of missile that shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, which killed all on board. Dismissing the allegations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia "could not accept" the results of the probe that the nation was involved. Peskov also said that the investigators had not publicly presented evidence to support their claims. A total of 298 passengers and crew members were killed when MH17 was shot down while flying over eastern Ukraine from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. The incident took place at a time when the Russian-backed separatists were fighting Ukrainian forces for control over the eastern Donbas region. The prosecutors cited intercepted phone calls but noted that there wasn't conclusive evidence that would link the direct involvement of Putin or other Russian officials. Hence, they couldn't pursue a criminal conviction and had to halt their probe. WATCH | Investigators end MH17 downing probe despite 'indications' of Putin's involvement × Earlier also Russia had denied any direct or indirect involvement in the crash and now Peskov on Thursday dismissed the evidence which had been presented by investigators. Peskov told reporters: "We know that a recording of a supposed phone call was published...in which not a single word is said about weapons. Even assuming that this conversation is real...there is not one word about weapons. Nobody has published anything else, so it's impossible to say anything." Peskov was asked specifically about the claim that Putin approved the delivery of BUK missile systems. He replied, "Russia did not take part in this investigation, so we cannot accept these results – especially since no basis for these statements has been made public." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia rejects prosecutors’ claim that Vladimir Putin was involved in MH17 downing

The government of Russia on Thursday said that it is discontinueing the consultations with Australia and the Netherlands over the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 17. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/five-key-questions-about-the-mh17-trial-284521">In pictures: Five key questions about the MH17 trial</a> 
 
Calling the talks ‘meaningless’ Russia accused both the countries of not seeking to establish what happened. Russia said investigations conducted had been biased and politicised.

"Such unfriendly actions by the Netherlands make it meaningless to continue our participation in tripartite talks," the ministry said in a statement, calling the Dutch-led investigations into the downing "biased, superficial and politicised".

"Australia and the Netherlands did not seek to understand what really happened in the summer of 2014, but instead were aiming to get Russia to admit guilt and receive compensation for the victims' relatives," the ministry added.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he was surprised by Russia's unilateral decision to stop negotiations on its liability for the downing of flight MH17, as well as by the timing.

"This is painful for the next of kin," he told Dutch media in Brussels on Thursday.

(With inputs from agencies)

The government of Russia on Thursday said that it is discontinueing the consultations with Australia and the Netherlands over the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 17.

The government of Russia on Thursday said that it is discontinueing the consultations with Australia and the Netherlands over the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 17. In pictures: Five key questions about the MH17 trial Calling the talks ‘meaningless’ Russia accused both the countries of not seeking to establish what happened. Russia said investigations conducted had been biased and politicised. "Such unfriendly actions by the Netherlands make it meaningless to continue our participation in tripartite talks," the ministry said in a statement, calling the Dutch-led investigations into the downing "biased, superficial and politicised". "Australia and the Netherlands did not seek to understand what really happened in the summer of 2014, but instead were aiming to get Russia to admit guilt and receive compensation for the victims' relatives," the ministry added. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he was surprised by Russia's unilateral decision to stop negotiations on its liability for the downing of flight MH17, as well as by the timing. "This is painful for the next of kin," he told Dutch media in Brussels on Thursday. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia pulls cooperation on MH17 probe, calls it 'meaningless'

The Dutch government on Friday said it would file a suit against&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;at the European Court of Human Rights over the downing of Malaysia Airlines passenger flight MH17,&nbsp;killing nearly 300 people&nbsp;over eastern Ukraine six years ago.

The Dutch government's move is designed to support cases brought by the relatives of dozens of victims to the Strasbourg-based court, Foreign Minister Stef Blok said.

The Boeing 777 travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was blown out of the sky by a surface-to-air missile fired from rebel-held eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/five-key-questions-about-the-mh17-trial-284521">Five key questions about the MH17 trial</a>

"Achieving justice for the 298 victims of the downing of flight MH17 is and will remain the government's highest priority," Blok said in a statement.

"By taking this step today, bringing a case before the ECHR and thus supporting the applications by the next of kin as much as we can, we are moving closer to this goal."&nbsp;

There was no immediate reaction from Moscow.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-meddling-casts-dark-shadow-over-mh17-trial-says-prosecutors-285536">Russian meddling casts 'dark shadow' over MH17 trial, says prosecutors</a>

The Netherlands, home to roughly two-thirds of the 298 victims, holds&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;responsible for the crash.The Kremlin has consistently denied involvement in the matter.

After years of collecting evidence, a Dutch-led international Joint Investigation team (JIT) last year said the missile launcher used to hit the jet came from a&nbsp;Russian army base just across the border.

The JIT subsequently issued arrest warrants for four suspects, who were put on trial in the Netherlands in absentia earlier this year.

The four suspects, three&nbsp;Russian men and one Ukrainian, are said to have arranged the missile system. They remain at large and are believed to be in&nbsp;Russia.

Despite the new court case, the Dutch government said it wanted to continue the talks with&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;on MH17 that it started together with Australia over a year ago.

The Dutch government on Friday said it would file a suit against Russia at the European Court of Human Rights over the downing of Malaysia Airlines passenger flight MH17, killing nearly 300 people over eastern Ukraine six years ago.

The Dutch government on Friday said it would file a suit against Russia at the European Court of Human Rights over the downing of Malaysia Airlines passenger flight MH17, killing nearly 300 people over eastern Ukraine six years ago. The Dutch government's move is designed to support cases brought by the relatives of dozens of victims to the Strasbourg-based court, Foreign Minister Stef Blok said. The Boeing 777 travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was blown out of the sky by a surface-to-air missile fired from rebel-held eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014. Also see: Five key questions about the MH17 trial "Achieving justice for the 298 victims of the downing of flight MH17 is and will remain the government's highest priority," Blok said in a statement. "By taking this step today, bringing a case before the ECHR and thus supporting the applications by the next of kin as much as we can, we are moving closer to this goal." There was no immediate reaction from Moscow. Also read: Russian meddling casts 'dark shadow' over MH17 trial, says prosecutors The Netherlands, home to roughly two-thirds of the 298 victims, holds Russia responsible for the crash.The Kremlin has consistently denied involvement in the matter. After years of collecting evidence, a Dutch-led international Joint Investigation team (JIT) last year said the missile launcher used to hit the jet came from a Russian army base just across the border. The JIT subsequently issued arrest warrants for four suspects, who were put on trial in the Netherlands in absentia earlier this year. The four suspects, three Russian men and one Ukrainian, are said to have arranged the missile system. They remain at large and are believed to be in Russia. Despite the new court case, the Dutch government said it wanted to continue the talks with Russia on MH17 that it started together with Australia over a year ago.

Dutch government takes Russia to European court over downing of MH17

Five key questions about the MH17 trial

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

When Pakistan closed its airspace during a conflict with India in February, Malaysia Airlines was not one of the carriers left scrambling to re-route flights because it had already done so two weeks earlier, the carrier's chief executive said.

Nearly five years after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/family-of-mh17-victim-sues-russia-banks-us-money-transfer-companies-208054">Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17</a> was shot down by a missile over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board, carriers like Malaysia Airlines are increasingly taking steps to uncover any threats to their planes.

But concerns persist over inadequate government intelligence sharing and a reluctance by countries involved in conflict to divulge information or sacrifice overflight fees by shutting their skies, safety experts said.

"The wound is still here in the whole organisation and we take safety very seriously," Malaysia Airlines chief executive Izham Ismail told Reuters on the sidelines of an International Air Transport Association (IATA) conference in Seoul.

In the aftermath of the shooting down of MH17, the aviation industry backed the creation by a UN agency of a conflict zone website as a one-stop repository for route planning.

But when the site was later closed after complaints from some countries over information-sharing, airlines turned elsewhere for advice.

"For the big 50 airlines, they have the resources to dedicate a security department to the job," said Mark Zee, founder of OPSGROUP, which launched the free website Safe Airspace to provide guidance after MH17.

"For everyone else - and that is thousands of operators, I can tell you that many of them have a really hard time making a decent risk assessment. I see it in the emails we get every day."

Airlines are spending millions of dollars a year on extra fuel flying roundabout routes in the Middle East and Africa to avoid conflict zones.

And carriers still see routes above war-torn countries differently, just like before MH17, when British Airways and Air France avoided eastern Ukraine, but Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines flew over it.

"This is where we need better information," IATA Senior Vice President, Safety and Flight Operations Gilberto Lopez-Meyer said in Seoul.

Qatar Airways, for one, recently returned to flying over Syria as part of its efforts to grapple with a two-year Gulf dispute that has blocked it from using the airspace of many of its neighbours. CEO Akbar al-Baker said the airline would not fly anywhere that is not safe.

'More aware'

The United States and other countries ban their airlines from flying over Syrian airspace at any altitude due to safety risks, according to a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) conflict zone website set up after MH17.

Yet the resources that are available to airlines often communicate changing threat levels too slowly and informally to be of use, according to the Dutch Safety Board, which led the MH17 investigation and released post-crash recommendations in February this year.

While the Netherlands shares confidential information on threats to its own carriers on a formal basis, other countries remain reluctant to do so.

The site set up after MH17 by the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) closed after "states objected to anybody but themselves publishing information about hazards in their airspace", said a source involved with the creation of the site who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Instead, the use of commercial services like OPSGROUP grew among airlines polled after MH17, the Dutch Safety Board said.

"I think after MH17 people became more aware of the problem. They seek information," said Mohammed Aziz, a former Lebanese air accident investigator who is now a consultant with Aviation Strategies International.

"The problem is before they weren't seeking information. They were waiting for information to come their way."

Montreal-based ICAO has also called for air traffic service authorities to report conflict zone hazards in notices to pilots. But these new requirements do not take effect until November 2020 and still put the onus on countries to share information.

"Rules alone do not change the behaviour of states," said Jeff Poole, director general of the Civil Air Services Navigation Organization (CANSO).

"However, we see that more and more states take the correct responsibility."

When Pakistan closed its airspace during a conflict with India in February, Malaysia Airlines was not one of the carriers left scrambling to re-route flights because it had already done so two weeks earlier, the carrier's chief executive said.

When Pakistan closed its airspace during a conflict with India in February, Malaysia Airlines was not one of the carriers left scrambling to re-route flights because it had already done so two weeks earlier, the carrier's chief executive said. Nearly five years after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down by a missile over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board, carriers like Malaysia Airlines are increasingly taking steps to uncover any threats to their planes. But concerns persist over inadequate government intelligence sharing and a reluctance by countries involved in conflict to divulge information or sacrifice overflight fees by shutting their skies, safety experts said. "The wound is still here in the whole organisation and we take safety very seriously," Malaysia Airlines chief executive Izham Ismail told Reuters on the sidelines of an International Air Transport Association (IATA) conference in Seoul. In the aftermath of the shooting down of MH17, the aviation industry backed the creation by a UN agency of a conflict zone website as a one-stop repository for route planning. But when the site was later closed after complaints from some countries over information-sharing, airlines turned elsewhere for advice. "For the big 50 airlines, they have the resources to dedicate a security department to the job," said Mark Zee, founder of OPSGROUP, which launched the free website Safe Airspace to provide guidance after MH17. "For everyone else - and that is thousands of operators, I can tell you that many of them have a really hard time making a decent risk assessment. I see it in the emails we get every day." Airlines are spending millions of dollars a year on extra fuel flying roundabout routes in the Middle East and Africa to avoid conflict zones. And carriers still see routes above war-torn countries differently, just like before MH17, when British Airways and Air France avoided eastern Ukraine, but Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines flew over it. "This is where we need better information," IATA Senior Vice President, Safety and Flight Operations Gilberto Lopez-Meyer said in Seoul. Qatar Airways, for one, recently returned to flying over Syria as part of its efforts to grapple with a two-year Gulf dispute that has blocked it from using the airspace of many of its neighbours. CEO Akbar al-Baker said the airline would not fly anywhere that is not safe. 'More aware' The United States and other countries ban their airlines from flying over Syrian airspace at any altitude due to safety risks, according to a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) conflict zone website set up after MH17. Yet the resources that are available to airlines often communicate changing threat levels too slowly and informally to be of use, according to the Dutch Safety Board, which led the MH17 investigation and released post-crash recommendations in February this year. While the Netherlands shares confidential information on threats to its own carriers on a formal basis, other countries remain reluctant to do so. The site set up after MH17 by the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) closed after "states objected to anybody but themselves publishing information about hazards in their airspace", said a source involved with the creation of the site who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter. Instead, the use of commercial services like OPSGROUP grew among airlines polled after MH17, the Dutch Safety Board said. "I think after MH17 people became more aware of the problem. They seek information," said Mohammed Aziz, a former Lebanese air accident investigator who is now a consultant with Aviation Strategies International. "The problem is before they weren't seeking information. They were waiting for information to come their way." Montreal-based ICAO has also called for air traffic service authorities to report conflict zone hazards in notices to pilots. But these new requirements do not take effect until November 2020 and still put the onus on countries to share information. "Rules alone do not change the behaviour of states," said Jeff Poole, director general of the Civil Air Services Navigation Organization (CANSO). "However, we see that more and more states take the correct responsibility."

Five years after MH17 downing, airline conflict alert system remains patchy

The family of an American teenager killed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-comes-under-fire-at-un-over-mh17-downing-140790">aboard the MH17 flight </a>launched a court case Thursday against Russian banks and US money transfer companies for helping to finance pro-Moscow separatists accused of shooting it down over Ukraine.

In a complaint filed in US federal court, the family of Quinn Lucas Schansman -- the only US citizen aboard the Malaysia Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur -- takes aim at Russia's Sberbank and VTB Bank, which have offices in the US, and the Western Union and MoneyGram transfer companies.

It accuses them of allowing large amounts of money to be sent to separatists in the Donetsk People's Republic, mainly from Russian diaspora sympathizers residing in the US and elsewhere, allowing them to acquire heavy weapons and to control the eastern part of Ukraine, from which the missile that downed the aircraft was fired.

The 63-page complaint, which seeks unspecified damages, is based on a 1992 US anti-terrorism law that allows American victims of terrorism to sue those who provide material support to terrorism.

Among the family's lawyers is a former deputy US ambassador to the UN, David Pressman.

"The men who launched the missile may never be hauled before a court to answer for their crimes, but all of those who participated in arming them and supporting them must be," Pressman said in a statement.

"Today, businesses and banks that allowed greed to reign supreme by providing -- day in and day out -- a reliable way for these terrorists to raise money from supporters around the world will be forced to answer for their actions," he said.

A Netherlands-led probe concluded in May 2018 that the plane was struck by a Buk surface-to-air missile controlled by Russia's 53rd Anti-Aircraft Rocket Brigade, based in the city of Kursk.

Australia and the Netherlands blamed Russia for the disaster, which killed all 298 people aboard, but Moscow has repeatedly denied responsibility for the destruction of the plane

The family of an American teenager killed aboard the MH17 flight launched a court case Thursday against Russian banks and US money transfer companies for helping to finance pro-Moscow separatists accused of shooting it down over Ukraine.

The family of an American teenager killed aboard the MH17 flight launched a court case Thursday against Russian banks and US money transfer companies for helping to finance pro-Moscow separatists accused of shooting it down over Ukraine. In a complaint filed in US federal court, the family of Quinn Lucas Schansman -- the only US citizen aboard the Malaysia Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur -- takes aim at Russia's Sberbank and VTB Bank, which have offices in the US, and the Western Union and MoneyGram transfer companies. It accuses them of allowing large amounts of money to be sent to separatists in the Donetsk People's Republic, mainly from Russian diaspora sympathizers residing in the US and elsewhere, allowing them to acquire heavy weapons and to control the eastern part of Ukraine, from which the missile that downed the aircraft was fired. The 63-page complaint, which seeks unspecified damages, is based on a 1992 US anti-terrorism law that allows American victims of terrorism to sue those who provide material support to terrorism. Among the family's lawyers is a former deputy US ambassador to the UN, David Pressman. "The men who launched the missile may never be hauled before a court to answer for their crimes, but all of those who participated in arming them and supporting them must be," Pressman said in a statement. "Today, businesses and banks that allowed greed to reign supreme by providing -- day in and day out -- a reliable way for these terrorists to raise money from supporters around the world will be forced to answer for their actions," he said. A Netherlands-led probe concluded in May 2018 that the plane was struck by a Buk surface-to-air missile controlled by Russia's 53rd Anti-Aircraft Rocket Brigade, based in the city of Kursk. Australia and the Netherlands blamed Russia for the disaster, which killed all 298 people aboard, but Moscow has repeatedly denied responsibility for the destruction of the plane

Family of MH17 victim sues Russia banks, US money transfer companies

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