Putin approved missile supply that downed MH17: Dutch investigator
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New York: Nearly 9 years after Malaysia Airlines passenger jet MH14 was downed, an investigator today said the missile involved in the act was approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The finding by the investigator comes less than three months after a Dutch court convicted two Russians and a Ukrainian in absentia over the downing of MH17.
Suspending further inquiry, Dutch prosecutor Digna van Boetzelaer said there was no ‘enough evidence’ to prosecute anymore suspects in the 2014 tragedy that killed 298 people on board, Al-Jazeera reported.
The victims came from 10 countries, including 196 Dutch, 43 Malaysians and 38 Australian residents.
The Boeing 777 travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014 crashed to earth after a Russian-made missile hit it over the separatist-held eastern Ukraine.
Despite widespread protest, Russia refused to cooperate with international investigation, rejecting any involvement in the tragedy.
Dutch prosecutor van Boetzelaer reportedly said that there were indications that a decision was made at presidential level, by President Putin to supply the Buk TELAR missile system.
"Although we speak of strong indications, the high bar of complete and conclusive evidence is not reached," she reportedly added.
Meanwhile, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said "we will continue to call the Russian Federation to account".
Families of the victims expressed disappointment at the decision to halt the investigation.