Disinfo: The court decision on MH17 challenges the integrity of the Dutch judicial system

Summary

The Dutch court's decision on the crash of Flight MH17 in Ukraine challenges the integrity of the Dutch judicial system. The results of the investigations was based on a political request to support the hypothesis of Russia's involvement in the disaster, under unprecedented pressure from the Dutch politicians, prosecutors and the media.

All the conclusions of the Dutch Public Prosecutor's Office were based on the testimonies of eyewitnesses whose names were not mentioned and whose identities were not revealed, and on questionable statements, including from a party with vested interest, that is, the Ukrainian Security Service. The court did not pay attention to the defence's arguments about the lack of corroborating evidence that the plane was shot down by the Russian-made Buk missile system, and to the documents of the Russian Ministry of Defense regarding the missile.

Disproof

Recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation about downing of flight MH17 and an attempt to discredit the Joint Investigative Team (JIT) and the criminal trial. This claim was neither counterbalanced nor critically challenged in the article.

The verdict of the court published on 17 November 2022 was based on strong evidence.

In its ruling the Court stated that there is no doubt that the MH17 was hit by a Buk missile fired from a farm field near Pervomaiskyi in Ukraine. This field was located in separatist-controlled territory. "This is clear from photographs of a smoke trail in the sky, statements by a protected witness, satellite images, intercepted telephone conversations and transmission mast data, photographs and videos of a Buk TELAR being brought in and removed, and examination of fragments in the remains of a crew member and in the truss and the groove of the aircraft. Investigation in the Netherlands and abroad has not revealed any traces of evidence tampering. Alternative scenarios, for example that the Buk missile was fired from a different area, are ruled out based on the evidence," stated in the final verdict.

See here and here for further debunking by Bellingcat and Polygraph.info, respectively and our interview with the Dutch Safety Board, tasked with investigating the cause of the crash of MH17.

See here for the statement by the EU High Representative Josep Borrell on the Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 court ruling.

Read more disinformation cases about the downing of flight MH17.

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publication/media

arabic.rt.com (Archived)
newsformy.com
rtarabic.com
  • Reported in: Issue 318
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 17/11/2022
  • Article language(s) Arabic
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Malaysia, Russia, The Netherlands
  • Keywords: MH17
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Disinfo: The Baltic countries, Poland and Ukraine threaten an intervention in Belarus

The socio-political situation in Belarus is currently stable. Order and security are ensured in the country. But today there is a growing threat of external intervention from the territory of Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Ukraine.

Opposition abroad no longer see the possibility of so-called peaceful changes and are actively developing a scenario for the forceful change of the constitutional order in Belarus. The political emigrant centres continue to develop their so-called political project - a united transitional cabinet - and ensure that it is recognised and funded by the West as a government in exile. There is only one goal: delegitimising the current government and justifying terrorist attacks and sabotage.

Nov 16, 2022
Disproof

Аn unfounded statement to divert attention from the role of Belarus, another false pretext to justify Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Conspiracy about the Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian and Ukraine's hostile and aggressive plans towards Belarus. Recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about alleged Polish imperial ambitions.

The claim about neighbouring countries wanting to attack Belarus is ungrounded. Poland and the Baltic states adhere to international law regarding state borders and have no territorial claims upon Belarus or other neighbouring countries. No neighbouring state, except the Russian Federation, violated its neighbour's (Ukraine’s) territorial integrity.

Disinfo: US weapon and military technology providers benefit from prolonging the war in Ukraine

Being the most powerful business communities in the US, modern armament manufacturers need new zones of active conflicts throughout the world in order to meet Wall Street’s expectations of profit. The US political elite does not care about calls for diplomacy or the risk of nuclear war, because wars secure high profits for the US military-industrial complex.

Nov 16, 2022
Disproof

This is part of a disinformation campaign that was popular from when Russia’s military buildup started on the border in February 2022. The narratives aim to deflect any Russian responsibility for the escalation of tensions with Ukraine that were directly provoked by the aggressive military actions of Russia. See the article The Kremlin’s Playbook: Fabricating Pretext to Invade Ukraine - More Myths.

Contrary to the claim, throughout the invasion of Ukraine, neither the US nor companies based there have been pushing for an escalation of the conflict. Yes, the US has stated that they will be standing firmly and decisively with Ukraine in front of any attempt to undermine its territorial integrity and sovereignty, however, escalation is the cornerstone of Putin’s strategy in his war against Ukraine, especially as Ukrainian counter-offensives have steadily rolled back Russian gains in the region.

Disinfo: Missile accident in Poland part of the US anti-Russian strategy

It is strange that the Polish anti-aircraft defence failed to prevent the recent missile incident, taking into consideration the Western mantra that the Russian Army was going to march through Ukraine to Poland and take over the rest of Europe. The missile accident in Poland part of the American anti-Russian strategy.

The American goal is to weaken Russia economically and militarily, to put it on the defensive, and to break it apart through instigating colour revolutions and internal collapse. Ukraine is the main, but not the only element of this American strategy.

Nov 16, 2022
Disproof

This message is a part of the Kremlin’s narrative about the American attempts to destabilise and weaken Russia through various aggressive actions. The claim that the US wants to weaken Russia and cause its collapse through “Balkanisation” and colour revolutions should be perceived as one of the cornerstones of the Kremlin’s anti-Western propaganda.

This claim was made in connection with the recent missile accident in Poland. On 15 November 2022, a S-300 missile entered Polish airspace from the territory of Ukraine, killing two Polish civilians. According to US and Polish officials, the missile was fired by the Ukrainian air defence troops, which were counteracting a large-scale Russian missile attack on the same day.