MOSCOW, August 26 (RIA Novosti) - The Dutch government spokesperson would not answer questions about the progress of the Malaysian Flight MH17 crash investigation when contacted by RIA Novosti, saying it was still unclear when the Dutch Safety Board concludes the investigation.
“At this time, it is unknown when the Dutch Safety Board and the Dutch Public Prosecution Service will conclude their investigations,” spokesperson for the Dutch Government, Lodewijk Hekking, told RIA Novosti in an email on Monday, adding that the Dutch Safety Board investigators are expected to publish reports “at regular intervals,” concerning the cause of the crash.
“[T]he Public Prosecution Service is responsible for the criminal investigation,” Hekking added.
The Public Information Service of the Netherlands was unable to comment.
The tragic July 17 crash of Malaysian Flight MH17 in Donetsk set off a wave of harsh accusations. Western governments, like the United States, Australia and others, charged local militia complicity in the downing of the plane, alleging the plane was downed by a BUK surface to air missile system. Russian government officials denied the claims citing lack of evidence.
An August 7 report by the New Straits Times asserted citing conclusions by American intelligence analysts that the plane was shot down by an air to air missile with Ukrainian government complicity. Satellite images released by the Russian Ministry of Defense show Ukrainian plane in the vicinity of MH17 prior to the crash.
When it is finally released, the preliminary report by the Dutch Safety Board “will contain the first factual findings arising from the investigation based on various sources, such as the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder (the black boxes), air traffic control data, radar and satellite images.”
Countries who have contributed information to the international investigation are Ukraine, Malaysia, Australia, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, France, Italy and Indonesia.
