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New results of MH17 investigation may be announced in spring, says prosecutor’s office

The joint investigation team will somewhere in the spring of 2023 probably announce the results of the further investigation into the MH17 case, Brechtje van de Moosdijk, a spokeswoman for the Dutch prosecutor's office, told

SCHIPHOL /The Netherlands/, November 18. /TASS/. A joint investigation team may announce new results of the investigation into the Boeing crash in Ukraine next spring, Brechtje van de Moosdijk, a spokeswoman for the Dutch prosecutor's office, told TASS on Thursday.

"And about new cases: the joint investigation team will somewhere in the spring of 2023 probably announce the results of the further investigation into the MH17 case," she said.

On Thursday, a Dutch court sentenced three of the four defendants, who were not present at the trial, to life imprisonment in the case of the MH17 flight disaster that occurred over Ukraine in July 2014. The verdict was announced on Thursday by Judge Hendrik Steenhuis. Earlier, the court found the former head of the Donetsk People’s Republic’s militia Igor Girkin (Strelkov) and his subordinates Sergey Dubinsky and Leonid Kharchenko guilty of involvement in the incident. The fourth defendant, Oleg Pulatov, represented by two Dutch lawyers, was acquitted.

Malaysia Airlines’ Boeing-777 (passenger flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur) was shot down on July 17, 2014 over the Donetsk Region of Ukraine, killing 298 people — citizens of ten countries. The Joint Investigation Team announced in June 2019 that it had established a list of four suspected accomplices. Their trial began on March 9, 2020. All of them were accused of delivering a Buk anti-aircraft system to Ukraine from Russia. The prosecutors demanded life imprisonment for all. The defendants were tried in absentia.

Russian officials have repeatedly expressed distrust towards the investigation team, pointing to the groundlessness of the prosecution’s arguments and reluctance to take Moscow’s arguments into account in the course of the investigation.

Senior Russian diplomat discusses BRICS cooperation, arms control with Egyptian ambassador

The parties also discussed the issue of arms control and "some other aspects of the relevant international agenda," the ministry noted

Former Ukrainian MP sees Zelensky turning into 'usurper' after his term expires

The legitimacy of the authorities is a hot button issue in Ukraine, where parliamentary and presidential elections are prohibited during martial law

Russia says its forces repel four Ukrainian counterattacks in Kupyansk area

The Ukrainian army losses were up to 70 servicemen, three motor vehicles, a D-30 howitzer, 2 Plastun-3000 electronic reconnaissance stations and a Nota electronic warfare station

Russian PM signs off on plan for regions to accommodate evacuees from Palestine

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Israeli Air Force strikes Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon

The IDF also said that its soldiers were forced to open fire in the area in order to "remove an imminent threat"

Crimea, Donbass to forever remain within Russia, Slovak PM tells national parliament

Robert Fico believes Moscow will win in its confrontation with Kiev

Both main US parties threatened Telegram, co-founder says

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G7 countries to prevent Iran from producing, purchasing weapons

The G7 finance ministers and Central Bank chiefs also condemned "the unprecedented attack against Israel by Iran"

Russian sovereignty over southern Kuril Islands indisputable, diplomat says

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the southern Kuril Islands were an integral part of Russia under international law based on the outcome of World War II

EU leaders urge to adopt proposal on using incomes from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

The EU, the US, Japan and Canada have frozen Russian assets worth a total amount of around $300 bln

Russia maintains constructive dialogue with both Iran, Israel — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov mentioned a recent phone call between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Ukraine to lose at least 10 mln citizens over mobilization law — political scientist

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Iran tells US about April 13 attack on Israel, it does not want escalation — top diplomat

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian added that prior to the attack, Tehran said that it would not target US military infrastructure in the Middle East "except in a situation where the United States wants to take military measures in support of Israel"

Humanitarian efforts in Gaza doomed without durable ceasefire — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya is convinced that the work of the UNRWA is indispensable under these circumstances

Romania now hosts as many as 11 F-16 jets for training of Ukrainian pilots

The ministers expressed their willingness to find a way for the center to continue to operate beyond 2025

Russian government approves list of unfriendly countries

There are two countries on the list

Ukrainian drone attack damages four houses in Russia’s Voronezh

According to Governor Alexander Gusev, last night the air defenses on duty in the Voronezh Region detected and destroyed several air targets, including three weather probes

Russian software sales soaring over last four years — Minister

The number of employees in IT companies increased by 1.5 times over four years, Maksut Shadaev said

Ukraine’s military loses positions near Avdeyevka, says DPR

Igor Kimakovsky said that Ukrainian forces suffered heavy casualties among personnel and military hardware, including Western equipment

US asking UNSC members to reject resolution on Palestine, hoping to avoid veto — media

UNSC approval would mean neither "statehood nor self-determination" for the Palestinian people, the State Department argued

Xi Jinping proposes four principles for resolving Ukrainian crisis

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Protesters give Georgian government one hour to revoke foreign agents bill

Earlier on Wednesday, Georgia’s parliament passed the foreign agents bill in the first reading

Weather balloon neutralized in Russia’s central Kaluga Region — authorities

According to the report, the area around the discovered balloon was cordoned off and residents of nearby houses were evacuated

German police apprehend two suspected Russian spies — media

The Der Spiegel magazine claims that the saboteurs’ targets included military cargo routes

Majority of France opposes confrontation with Russia — expert

Laurent Briard believes that French President Emmanuel Macron crossed a line when he announced he was considering sending French troops to Ukraine

West silent on Ukraine's threats to attack Crimean Bridge — MFA

Maria Zakharova wondered how the Western public, government agencies and intelligence services would feel if military experts from third countries started openly discussing ways to blow up bridges in Germany and Portugal

Russian Aerospace Forces destroy three militant hideouts in Syria’s Homs

No shelling attacks on Syrian troops were registered over the past 24 hours

Russia restores gasoline production after decline — Energy Ministry

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US retrieves weapons previously banned under INF treaty — Russian ambassador

Anatoly Antonov emphasized that such steps were another powerful blow to strategic stability

Industrial building damaged, civilian injured after drone crash in Russia’s Rostov Region

On Thursday night, air defenses destroyed three drones near Kamensk-Shakhtinsky in the Rostov Region

Russia-China military-technical cooperation not directed against other states — diplomat

Cooperation between Moscow and Beijing in the military-technical sphere contributes to enhancing security of Russia and China and "is not directed against third countries," Maria Zakharova stressed

Ukrainian front may collapse this summer — newspaper

According to the newspaper’s assessments, Russia "has never been closer to its goals" in the special military operation zone

Kiev continues to openly announce terrorist attacks on Russia — diplomat

Maria Zakharova also pointed to the fact that Ukraine's special services do not give up attempts to "massacre their former compatriots"

Turkish foreign minister urges West to stop Israel, prevent war in region

"The US and Western countries should stop Israel, tell it "Stop!" and prevent the conflict from spilling over," Hakan Fidan said

Russian diplomat challenges France to stop arming Kiev amid Olympic truce talk

According to Maria Zakharova, in order for Moscow to take Macron’s initiative seriously, "practical steps" are needed

Russia, CIS partners to hold air defense exercise in 2024

The participants in the exercises will practice interaction in getting ready for and conducting combat operations by aviation and air defense forces that are part of the unified regional air defense system of Russia and Belarus

Roscosmos chief notes high quality of Vostochny space center’s construction

Yury Borisov said that the space facility’s launch pad bore practically no visible signs of the recent Angara-A5 carrier rocket’s launch

West, Kiev indulge in nuclear blackmail by demanding control of ZNPP — Russian MFA

"Without noticing it themselves, they spoke the language of an ultimatum," Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova underlined

Israel planned to strike back at Iran on April 15, but decided to postpone, Axios reports

Israel told the US administration about the decision to wait, according to a US official

DPR leader reports heaviest fighting near Avdeyevka, Chasov Yar

According to Denis Pushilin, it is too early to say when the city could be liberated

No snap elections before delimiting borders with Azerbaijan, Armenian PM says

Nikol Pashinyan said about it, replying to a question from a resident of the borderline village of Berkaber about the necessity to hold snap elections before delimiting the border with Azerbaijan

Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

The first Konteiner radar went on combat duty in the Volga area region of Mordovia on December 1, 2019

Georgian protests against foreign agent bill reek of US influence — Medvedev

"The experienced and all-too-familiar Hollywood touch can be seen behind these rallies," the politician pointed out

VTB CEO calls for SWIFT to be fully abandoned in payments

The banker stressed that VTB is working as part of a pilot project for the digital ruble, including in the field of cross-border settlements

Nearly 18,000 houses flooded in Russia, operational services say

Russian Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov earlier reported to President Vladimir Putin that the spring flood wave had passed Orsk and Orenburg, the water level was dangerous but decreasing

Ukraine turns from sovereign country into Western protectorate, Hungarian PM says

Viktor Orban noted that there should be a buffer zone between NATO and Russia and Ukraine could serve as one

Russian, Turkish senior diplomats discuss situation in Gaza

"The meeting focused on the situation in the region," said in the statement

Over 40 nations want to join BRICS — Russian lawmaker

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Kremlin condemns 'illegal' seizure of villa from Russian businessman

Dmitry Peskov underscored that Moscow has already made its position clear on this matter

Georgian president says she will veto law on foreign agents

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Russian investigators start inquiry into financing of terrorism by US, NATO officials

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Alexander Orlov noted that recently French President Emmanuel Macron "has made a number of questionable moves that have increased the divide" between both countries

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The President of the United States has made that very clear

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Ukrainian president admits Russian troops’ advancement

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EU summit urges to provide air defense systems and all necessary military aid to Kiev

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Number of people convicted of high treason in Russia last year revealed

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Press review: Iran fires back at Israel and Russia, West spar over AI rulebook

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, April 15th

US deploying missiles in Philippines to endanger global security — Russian envoy

Anatoly Antonov has urged the US "not to open Pandora's Box" and follow Russia’s suit "by taking all necessary steps to ensure global stability and predictability"

US believes that Russia tested 9M729 missile for range beyond 500 km

"All NATO allies agree that the 9M729 is not compliant with the INF Treaty," the US embassy’s spokesperson said

Kiev’s attacks on Zaporozhye nuke plant result of impunity encouraged by US

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Slovakia to oppose Ukraine’s NATO membership bid — PM

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EU vows new sanctions against Iran, calls on Mideast conflict parties to show restraint

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Russia expects Armenia to clarify 'military, political accords' with US, EU — diplomat

Maria Zakharova noted that Moscow would not be surprised if it turned out that the US and the EU had imposed their plans on Yerevan

New US bill calls for $26 bln in assistance to Israel

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G7 countries to continue examining possible ways of using frozen Russian assets

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China to act over possible US measures for alleged support of Russian defense sector

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FSB declassifies documents revealing Ukrainian infiltration of Red Army units during WWII

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Mystery surrounds dolphin deaths on Black Sea coast, investigation underway

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Ukrainian military under constant gunfire by Russian troops near Urozhainoye, says POW

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Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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Shoigu visits presentation of over 30 promising weapons, including robotic vehicles

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Ukrainians abroad storming embassies to avoid mobilization, Russian diplomat says

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Press review: US throws Russia New START curveball and Washington's aid balancing act

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Georgia’s parliament approves first reading of foreign agent bill

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Russia bans 235 Australian local government officials from entering country — MFA

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Israel plans to send 'painful message' to Iran in response to attack — newspaper

According to the report, Israel’s war cabinet will meet on April 16 for a third straight day

Russia assumes that Security Council will soon return to Gaza ceasefire issue — diplomat

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Israel may have used banned white phosphorus munitions while shelling Lebanon — TV

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Press review: Ukraine, Israel vie for EU’s attention and Georgia passes controversial bill

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'Iron Dome' can't fully protect from UAV swarms — Chinese expert

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Ukraine attacks ZNPP training center again, drone neutralized

"No one was injured as a result of the attack," the news release said

Ukrainian president signs law tightening mobilization rules

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French, US, British nukes all interwoven — Russian diplomat

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Putin points to high risk of new epidemic outbreaks

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Press TV reports all of Iran's hypersonic missiles hit intended targets in Israel

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Yerevan's refusal to delimit borders with Baku to escalate regional tensions — PM

Nikol Pashinyan pointed out that the demarcation process also involves risks, but they are manageable, after which "Armenia will become ten times stronger"

Shoigu tests commando vehicle, calls for additional machineguns

The Russian defense minister "personally tested the special transportation vehicle and its running qualities"