THE court proceedings examining criminal responsibility in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, which begins in March next year, will hopefully bring closure for the victims’ next of kin, families and relatives, said Ukrainian ambassador to Malaysia Olexander Nechytaylo.

The envoy said he believed the development will help secure justice for all 298 people on board, including 15 crew members, who perished.

“After more than five years of the investigation, the trial will be an important milestone in bringing closure to the families and relatives,” he said after hosting a year-end luncheon for Bernama journalists and editors in Kuala Lumpur recently.

On July 17, 2014, Flight MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over Donetsk in Ukraine.

An international joint investigation team (JIT) led by the Dutch concluded that MH17 was downed by a BUK anti-aircraft missile fired by pro-Russian separatists.

In June, the JIT, comprising Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Ukraine, announced that four individuals – three Russians and one Ukrainian – would be charged with the downing of MH17.

On June 19, the Dutch Public Prosecution Service charged them with murder.

International arrest warrants were issued for the accused who are expected to be tried in absentia on March 9, 2020, in the District Court of The Hague.

On another matter, Nechytaylo said Ukraine, among the leading global exporters and producers of sunflower oil and grain crop, is already exporting sunflower oil to Malaysia before being re-exported to other countries.

“Ukraine also wants to learn some of the best practices of Malaysia in managing haj pilgrims to Mecca as there are approximately two million Muslims residing in Ukraine,” said the envoy, who is heading his mission in Kuala Lumpur for three years.

On tourism arrivals from Ukraine to Malaysia, he said an average of 1,000 people Ukrainians visit Malaysia every month, registering a growth of 10% yearly.

“As part of our programme for next year, we will also showcase the Ukraine Film Festival to moviegoers in Malaysia by bringing some of the best motion pictures,” he said, adding that Ukraine is expecting a GDP growth of 4% this year. – Bernama, December 30, 2019.