Source:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/05/ukraine-releases-mh17-plane-crash-suspect-russiaThe reports have worried Dutch investigators and lawmakers, who fear Russia will pressure Ukraine to give up one of the few suspects in the case in custody. Russia is holding dozens of Ukrainian prisoners, including 24 sailors captured in November and the film-maker Oleh Sentsov.
Forty European MEPs called on the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, this week not to release Tsemakh, saying in a letter: “His availability and testimony before the joint investigation team is thus of the utmost importance for an effective prosecution by the countries involved.”
His capture was quickly publicised and recognised as a possible breakthrough in the Dutch-led investigation into the attack on MH17. Of the 298 passengers, 196 were Dutch citizens. Yet during his time behind bars Tsemakh was not questioned by Dutch investigators, who said on Wednesday they wanted to speak to him as a person of interest in the case.
Brechtje van de Moosdijk, a spokeswoman for the Dutch-led MH17 investigation, told the Associated Press: “If he’s being swapped then, well, of course it’s hard to say that we can speak to him when he would be in Russia.”
