By SCHIPHOL. Nov 17 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Head of the investigation team investigating the crash of MH17, Digna van Butzelar, says that the prosecution is satisfied with the court’s decision and does not rule out that at the beginning of 2023 or in the spring it will report new results of the investigation, which is ongoing.
She said at the Schiphol court complex on Thursday, commenting on the announced decision to the Interfax-Ukraine agency that they are very happy with this decision, especially because there were so many factors. Van Butzelar said that they talked about how it happened, that it was a Buk-TELAR that was delivered from Russia, that the rocket was launched from a field near Pervomaiske. She said they were doing their job well, which is very important for family and friends.
Speaking about the fact that one of the accused, Oleg Pulatov, was acquitted by the court, van Butzelar expressed the opinion that she did not consider it a mistake of the investigation. According to her, they had all the facts about what happened, as well as about Pulatov’s role. But as she explained the legal assessment of this role by the court differs from theirs.
Answering the question whether the prosecution intends to appeal this verdict, the investigator said that they had received the decision in full, they have to discuss it and then will decide (they have two weeks for this).
Responding to a question about the status of the investigation, van Butzelar said that the investigation currently concerns the crew of the Buk and that they think that at the beginning or in the spring of next year they will be ready to say this.
