WARSAW, December 19. /ITAR-TASS/. The investigation of the air crash near Smolensk that killed the Polish leadership can be ended by April 2014, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

“The aircraft wreckage will be returned when the investigation is over. I hope that the investigation will be ended soon,” Lavrov said.

“This is not related to any attempts to delay the case and cover any facts. On the contrary, the investigation is wanted to be conducted thoroughly. This is very important because the situation heightens around the tragedy. We don’t want any issues to remain,” the Russian minister said.

The air crash near Smolensk occurred on April 10, 2010. A total of 96 people, including Polish President Lech Kaczynski, were aboard the plane. The causes of the air crash are being investigated by Russian and Polish investigators.