Two Dutch lawyers are representing the Russian suspect Oleg Poelatov in the trial concerning the shooting down of the Malaysian passenger plane MH17 over Ukraine. He is one of four suspects whom the Netherlands will soon prosecute on charges of murder. All 289 people on board the plane were killed in the missile attack, including nearly two hundred Dutch nationals.
It was recently revealed that one of the other three suspects has also hired a different Dutch lawyer. The four suspects will likely be tried in absentia because they have so far refused to appear before the Dutch courts.
The two lawyers, Boudewijn van Eijck and Sabine ten Doesschate, have not yet confirmed who their client is, but sources have confirmed a report by the Russian news agency Itar-Tass that it concerns Oleg Poelatov. He was the second-in-command of the intelligence service of the Russia-backed rebels in Donetsk. His boss Sergej Doebinski was considered the right-hand man of rebel leader Igor Girkin. The fourth suspect is garrison commander Leonid Chartsjenko.
The Dutch lawyers will collaborate in defending Poelatov with the Russian lawyer Elena Kutina and her law firm in Moscow. It is not yet clear whether the Russian lawyer will actually be present at the trial.
The two Dutch lawyers say they understand the trial will evoke strong emotions and that they will handle the case with respect for the bereaved families. Furthermore, they state that it is important that suspects receive independent legal counsel that presents their side of the case.
On March 9, the first hearing in the landmark trial will take place in the extra-secure court at Schiphol. Hearing dates have already been reserved through March 2021 in preparation for the trial.
The Malaysian plane was shot down on July 17, 2014, while en route from the Dutch Schiphol Airport to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. This occurred over eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists were fighting against the Ukrainian government forces. The Boeing 777 was hit by a Buk missile which, according to earlier investigations, belonged to a Russian battalion and had been transported into Ukrainian territory.
On June 19, 2019, JIT investigators accused four military intelligence officers of involvement in the missile attack. Among the suspects is Igor Girkin, the rebel commander in eastern Ukraine. Sergei Doebinski and Oleg Poelatov from Russia, and Leonid Ghartsjenko from Ukraine are also charged. They are jointly suspected of transporting the Buk launcher to the war zone in eastern Ukraine from which flight MH17 was shot down. The four have been placed on national and international wanted lists.