This is one of my last blogs about the MH17 process. After more than 2.5 years, our desire for justice is in sight. This is the last block before the court’s verdict. Today there are more relatives than usual, this time also interested parties from Australia. On the other hand, only a few journalists are present. Today might not be a very interesting day for the general public either. Today the Public Prosecution Service and the Legal Aid Team (RBT; the lawyers of the relatives) are responding to the plea of the defense of Pulatov, which they held in March.
I am back in the stands, looking down into the courtroom and I immediately notice that those terrible screens – which have stood in front of the judges for two years because of corona – are gone. It immediately looks much nicer. The judges now seem closer. In the meantime, I am thinking about the fact that I will most likely never come here again after the verdict. And that is good. I have listened, cried, laughed and marveled as much as I could from the courtroom or from the stands. That happened again today. I first listened, then cried a bit and was surprised to finally laugh a bit.
It started with one of our lawyers, through a request to make all procedural documents available, which the defense does not want to cooperate in the interest of their client and/or the investigators consulted. I’m listening, but my head isn’t quite there yet. I’m still looking around for a while and then suddenly it’s about compensation. Our lawyer, who can plead very well and speaks with a pleasant voice, explains Why next of kin have an absolute right to it and how such compensation can help relatives with processing: through the feeling of recognition with regard to the suffering suffered.
I also get a weird sad feeling about that. Suddenly I am touched by her words. She describes the suffering on the basis of examples, consisting of quotes from the speeches that relatives gave during the right to speak.
And suddenly the tears roll down my cheeks. I try to hide them invisibly for the people around me and quickly focus on my pen and notebook again.
Fortunately, the crying does not last long and it is time for the reply from the Public Prosecution Service. I look forward to that again, because I am impressed by the verbal strength in the texts of the public prosecutors. heroes, our heroes they are. I have listened to them with interest, great admiration and pride for the past two years. Just like today. The OM’s response to the defense’s doubts – whether it was a BUK missile and whether it was the said firing location (what a nonsense) – was fantastic. I can only say that the Public Prosecution Service fully, professionally and accurately substantiated the investigation in a very civilized manner theses of the defense completely filleted.
I endured those hours in the stands, on those hard wooden chairs, with a smile and listening and watching them. Now that I’m home and typing this blog, I’m only thinking one thing. “There is no room for doubt, there is no other credible scenario than that MH17 was brought down by a BUK missile fired from Pervomaiskvi.” This statement and the expression on the faces of the prosecutors spoke BUK parts today.
Ria van der Steen
