By SCHIPHOL. Nov 17 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The District Court of The Hague in its judgment found that at the time of the crash of flight MH17, an international military conflict was already underway on the territory of Ukraine between Ukraine and the so-called "DPR", which was under the control of the Russian Federation.
This explanation was made by chairman Hendrick Steinhaus during the announcement of the decision, which took place at the Schiphol court complex on Thursday.
According to him, the court found that at that time the Russian Federation exercised general control over the "DPR". So, many leaders of the "DPR" had Russian citizenship and close ties with the Russian Federation. As an example, the judge called intercepted conversations between the Kremlin representative Surkov at that time and the so-called head of the "DPR" Borodai at that time. In addition, the Russian Federation provides assistance in the fight (against Ukraine), providing logistical support, financing, putting columns with weapons that cross the border, the court noted.
In addition, the Russian Federation gave instructions, reports of which were then transmitted to Moscow, as well as Moscow carried out the planning of specific operations. For example, Sloviansk: Moscow does not want Sloviansk to be surrendered, but Girkin makes a different decision, since he did not receive help, the court demonstrates the presence of the role of the Russian Federation.
Other facts he called the use of Russian military equipment, as well as the involvement of the Russian military, coordinated military actions of the separatists with the Russian army. The judge stated that the Russian Federation provided the organization and training of the “DPR” and exercised control, deciding who would take senior positions. The court concluded that since May 2014 there has been a situation in which the Russian Federation had universal control over the territory of the "DPR". Thus, the court believes that since mid-May 2014, an international military conflict between Ukraine and the "DPR", which was under the control of the Russian Federation, took place on the territory of Ukraine.
