Russia hands over MH17 information

The Russian Public Prosecutor delivered a package of information relating to the downing of flight MH17 to the Dutch embassy in Moscow, Minister Ard van der Steur of Security and Justice said during a parliamentary debate on the attack on the Malaysia Airlines plane, NU.nl reports.

It is unclear exactly what information this package contains. The Joint Investigation Team - the team responsible for the criminal investigation into the plane's downing - will assess the info as soon as they receive it. It is therefore unclear whether the package contains the promised radar images.

The JIT presented their preliminary conclusions in the investigation last month. The team is certain that MH17 was shot down by a BUK missile system from a field in the Ukriane that was under the control of pro-Russian separatists. The team also tracked through photos and witness statements the missile system traveling from Russia to the field and then back to Russia again after the disaster.

Russia contradicts these findings. Two days before the presentation Russia released radar images to local media saying that these images exonorate the pro-Russian separatists. The Russians also claimed that the JIT is biased and called for a "complete and transparrent" investigation. Minister Bert Koenders responded by letting the Russian ambassador know that such baseless accusations are unacceptable.