Pompeo Urges Russia to Hand Over MH17 Shootdown Suspects After Murder Charges Announced

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CNS News

Investigators into the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine five years ago announced criminal charges Wednesday against four men – a former colonel in Russia's FSB intelligence service, two former employees of the GRU military intelligence agency, and a Ukrainian national.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed the development, and urged Moscow to “ensure that any indicted individuals currently in Russia face justice.”

Dutch chief public prosecutor Fred Westerbeke told a press conference the Dutch-led joint investigation team (JIT) will not request the suspects’ surrender for trial – since both the Russian and Ukrainian constitutions prohibit extradition – but will ask the authorities to issue them with summonses, and will request permission to interrogate them.

The trial is set to begin in a Dutch court on March 9 next year, with or without the suspects present, and the four will face murder charges.