Malaysian PM: MH17 Findings ‘Politically-Motivated’, No Proof Russia to Blame

Conspiracy Theory - Blame Russia

BY YISWAREE PALANSAMY
Malay Mail

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad attends the Prime Minister’s Department Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house in Putrajaya June 20, 2019. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

PUTRAJAYA, June 20 — Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today claimed that the recent findings on the culprit behind the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was a “politically-motivated” conclusion to solely blame Russia.

In a press conference, Dr Mahathir also demanded proof that it was indeed Russia which was behind the shooting, adding that the incident was made into a political issue “from the very beginning”.

“We are very unhappy because from the very beginning, it became a political issue on how to accuse Russia of the wrongdoing. Even before they examine, they already said Russia.

“Now they say they have proof. So it is very difficult for us to accept that,” he told reporters.

“That is different, but as far as we are concerned, we want proof of guilt [that Russia did it]. But so far, there is no proof, only hearsay,” he said when asked if he is worried about Malaysia’s palm oil stake with Russia.

Dr Mahathir said he was convinced, therefore, that the investigations were politically motivated.

“Well certainly. From the very beginning they wanted to accuse Russia, and now of course they say they have proven who the person is. This is a ridiculous thing,” he said to a question as to whether he felt the findings of the investigations on MH17 were marred with political interests.

Moscow has denied the allegations made by the Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that Russian servicemen were involved in the gunning down of Flight MH17 that was shot down over Ukraine on July 17, 2014.

In a press statement today, the Russian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur said that the Russian Federation is the target of “completely unfounded accusations” with intention to discredit the nation in the eyes of the international community.

It pointed out the Russian authorities had also made the unprecedented move of declassifying Russian military equipment and conducting a meticulous experiment in collaboration with Almaz-Antei, to providing primary radar data and documents showing that the missile that downed the Malaysian Boeing belonged to Ukraine.

They also had precision expert analysis proving that the video clips supporting the JIT’s conclusions were fabricated.

Ukraine-Russia Conflict Comes Before International Court of Justice

Wouldn't it be astonishing if they actually managed to settle their disputes in court? That likelihood is probably a small fraction of 1 in a thousand, but just think how interesting it would be? What would NATO do? 

By Ed Adamczyk

Olena Zerkal, a representative of Ukraine, awaits the start of Ukraine's lawsuit against Russia on Monday in the international Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands. Ukraine contends Russia's support of anti-government forces in Ukraine and Russian annexation of Crimea are violations of United Nations treaties. Photo by Bas Czerwinski, EPA

(UPI) -- Ukraine began its case against Russia on Monday in the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

The four-day hearing is the start of a lawsuit in which Ukraine accuses Russia of illegally annexing Crimea and funding separatist rebels within Ukraine. It also includes the alleged Russian downing of a Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014, an incident in which all 298 people aboard the plane died.

A 45-page complaint details alleged violations under two U.N. conventions. It accuses Russia of violating the Terror Financing Treaty through its ongoing support of "illegally armed groups" in eastern Ukraine, and of alleged mistreatment of ethnic Tartar and Ukrainian populations, a violation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination during the 2014 annexation of Crimea.

"Ukraine initiates the legal fight, the international opposition to Russian aggression in the legal field, the opposition to the occupation of Crimea and Donbas, and massive violation of human rights," said Iryna Herashchenko, Ukrainian parliament member and envoy to the legal proceedings, in a statement.

Russia has repeatedly denied the allegations and will be able to respond during the initial hearing. Ukrainian lawyers accused Russia of making it "impossible for Ukrainian citizens to feel safe anywhere in their country" in opening remarks Monday.

Court proceedings could take up to three years, former ICJ judge Bruno Simma told the German newspaper Deutsche Welle, noting that "It's a complicated situation."

Unlike the International Criminal Court, also headquartered in The Hague, Russia recognizes ICJ authority and as a U.N. security council permanent member can ask for a Russian citizen to be appointed to the ICJ's 15-member board of judges.

Nearly 10,000 people have died in the three-year conflict in Ukraine.