Poroshenko signs a bill allowing Netherlands to prosecute in Ukraine those responsible for MH17 air disaster
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed a bill ratifying an agreement with the Netherlands regarding their international judicial cooperation. This decision will allow the Dutch to carry out a legal process concerning the crash of the Boeing 777 Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in Donbass in 2014, the president’s press office announced.
President Petro Poroshenko has signed bills “which ratify an agreement between Ukraine and the Kingdom of the Netherlands for international judicial cooperation regarding crimes connected to the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 on July 17, 2014,” and “which fulfill the agreement between Ukraine and the Kingdom of the Netherlands about international judicial cooperation on crimes connected with the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 on July 17, 2014,” according to the president’s website.
This agreement was ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament on June 12.
According to information from the Ministry of Justice, “the document that was signed gives the Dutch jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for crimes,” connected to the downing of flight MH17. The document also stipulates that the prosecution of suspected persons will take place in a Dutch court—specifically at the Hague. Also, the agreement allows for the court hearings to be carried out via videoconference. Those who cannot be extradited to the Netherlands will serve their prison sentences in Ukraine.