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BFF-28
RUSSIA-UKRAINE-CONFLICT-PRISONERS-MH17-NETHERLANDS
Netherlands asked Ukraine not to hand over MH17 suspect to Russia
THE HAGUE, Sept 7, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The Netherlands pressed Kiev hard to
drop the handover to Russia of a key figure in the 2014 downing of Malaysian
Airlines flight MH17 and regrets it was done, the government said Saturday.
The Dutch government contacted Ukraine “several times and at the very
highest level” in an effort to prevent the handover of Vladimir Tsemakh,
believed to be an air defence specialist for the pro-Moscow rebels in eastern
Ukraine, Foreign Minister Stef Blok said in a letter to parliament, adding
that he “regretted” Kiev’s decision.
MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down by a Russian-made
missile in July 2014 over eastern Ukraine, killing all 283 people on board.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1849 hrs