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In a tragedy that killed all 298 people on flight MH17 killed on July 17, 2014, Leonid Kharchenko, 47, was the only person with a Ukrainian passport among four suspects named in the Dutch investigation. Leader. The other three are Russian.
The government of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic of eastern Ukraine detained Kharchenko, a former commander of a combat unit, near his home on March 11, Russian BBC radio quoted an unidentified source.
He was charged with possessing illegal weapons, a crime unrelated to MH-17. Authorities on May 8 extended their custody period by 2 months.
Leonid Kharchenko. Photo: Moscow Times
Dutch-led prosecutors have charged Kharchenko and three Russian suspects with a central role in transporting and launching the Buk missile system to shoot down MH17 aircraft.
The trial for the MH17 case began in the Netherlands on March 9. However, the trial was adjourned until 8-6 to give defense attorneys more time to prepare.
Some sources claim that the Donersk authorities arrested Kharchenko on the absurd accusations mentioned above to protect him from a “kidnapping” by the Ukrainian government, which was involved in a six-year civil war with the separatists. in the East.
The scene of flight MH17 was shot down. Photo: TASS
Kiev in 2015 accused Kharchenko of establishing a terrorist group. Last year, a prominent MH17 witness was kidnapped by Ukrainian security forces and handed over to Russia in a prisoner exchange.
Russia has so far denied participation in the MH17 case.
Gia Minh (according to The Moscow Times)
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