International Experts Continue Investigating Cause of MH17 Crash

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

KIEV, Ukraine – As an international team of investigators continues to look into the cause of the MH17 crash, it appears that the focus has shifted to gathering and protecting witnesses who can support the theory that it was a Buk missile that took down the plane last summer. The Joint Investigative Team (“JIT”) is offering protection to any witnesses who are concerned about coming out for safety reasons.

A map of Ukraine that shows where into pro-Russian territory MH17 crashed. (Photo courtesy of Newsweek)

The JIT is currently “looking for witnesses who have seen Buk crew members or have more information about the identity of those involved in ordering and launching the Buk.” A Dutch report claims that the plane was downed by “high-velocity objects,” which other sources such as the JIT believe came from a Buk missile system. Intelligence appears to show such a system in the area moving prior to the plane going down, and so the investigation is currently focused on finding witnesses who can verify the involvement of this system, or perhaps help find those responsible and fill in some of the missing pieces to this story. It further appears that the Buk launcher crossed into Russia shortly after the plane was downed.

In the meantime, while the second Minsk cease-fire largely holds in Eastern Ukraine, both sides continue to commit minor violations. On Saturday, 22 Russian tanks crossed from the Russian town of Gukovo into Eastern Ukraine via Luhansk and towards Sverdlovsk. The Donetsk regional government also claims that Kiev violated the truce 13 times on Saturday. On Sunday, pro-Russian rebels fired 15 Grad missiles at Horlivka, and they claim to have received the 122mm Grad missiles from one of Russia’s “humanitarian convoys,” which are still arriving.

A survey by Ukrainian agency Interfax, which surveyed over 2,000 citizens in Donetsk and Luhansk, found 45% of residents did not have enough to eat. The United States is also stepping in to help by sending 35 paratroopers from the Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, Italy, to train six Ukrainian National Guard companies over a two-month deployment. Britain has also sent 35 military personnel, along with non-lethal equipment, to train Ukrainians in Mykolaiv during a two-month deployment.

Meanwhile, while Russia continues to deny direct involvement in the Ukrainian fight, some Russians, such as Dmitry Sapozhnikov, claim to have left Russia to go to Ukraine to fight. Not only that, but Sapozhnikov claims that “all operations, especially large-scale ones, are led by Russian officers, by Russian generals… we fulfill the orders.” US Lt Gen Ben Hodges reports that nearly 12,000 Russian troops are currently operating inside Ukraine.

For more information, please see:

RT – MH17 probe looking for witnesses to back ‘Buk missile’ scenario – 31 March 2015

BBC – How Ukraine rebels rely on Russians – 31 March 2015

The Telegraph – Separatist fighter admits Russian tanks, troops ‘decisive in eastern Ukraine battles’ – 31 March 2015

Newsweek – U.S. Sending Army Paratroopers to Train Ukraine Forces – 31 March 2015

BBC – MH17 disaster: Appeal for Buk rocket witnesses – 30 March 2015

The Wall Street Journal – Dutch-Led Probe of MH17 Crash Says Buk Missile Launch is Primary Theory – 30 March 2015

Newsweek – Russian Tanks and Fighters Enter Eastern Ukraine, Says Kiev – 30 March 2015

Bloomberg – Ukraine Says Rebel Attacks Ebb as Tanks Said to Cross Border – 29 March 2015

Bill Browder’s Book, ‘Red Notice’, Launched in Russian Language in the West After Being Banned inside Russia

31 March 2015 – ‘Red Notice’, the Number One New York Times bestseller by Putin critic Bill Browder, hasnow been released in the Russian language, after its successful launch in nine languages and thirteen countries.

Shunned by all major Russian publishing houses and online book distributors because of its controversial content, Browder’s ‘Red Notice’ will now be published by Kiev-based publisher, Laurus, in the Russian language and distributed outside of Russia through Google Play, where the reader can order a hard copy (https://play.google.com/store/books/details/RED_NOTICE_Russian_Edition?id=YQWgBwAAQBAJ&hl=en_GB), and Amazon, where an electronic edition is available (http://www.amazon.com/Red-Notice-Russian-Bill-Browder-ebook/dp/B00UN2FZTG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1427452245&sr=8-3&keywords=red+notice, http://www.amazon.com/Red-Notice-Russian-Bill-Browder-ebook/dp/B00UN2FZTG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1427452245&sr=8-3&keywords=red+notice)

“The Russian people are the natural audience for ‘Red Notice.’ But because of the fear among Russian publishers of government retaliation for associating themselves with this work, we had to publish the Russian edition outside of Russia. Currently, publishers from twenty different countries spanning from Brazil to Japan to Greece have displayed an interest in publishing this book, but none inside of Russia,” said Bill Browder, author of ‘Red Notice’.

‘Red Notice,’ the personal expose by Bill Browder of the events leading to the arrest and murder of Russian anti-corruption lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, the subsequent cover-up by the Putin regime and the Western response, has become an instant international bestseller since its release in February 2015 worldwide.

In the first week of sales, ‘Red Notice’ hit the New York Times bestseller list, and has stayed on it for the seven weeks running (http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-02-22/hardcover-nonfiction/list.html).

‘Red Notice’ has grabbed readers with widely diverse interests comprising business, politics, and spy thrillers. It is featured this month as number one bestseller in the New York Times’ Crime section (http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/crime-and-punishment/list.html), number two in Espionage, number three in Business section, and number six in Politics.

‘Red Notice’ has also been Number One bestseller in ‘International Business’ on Amazon.com; and it has appeared on the bestseller lists by NPR, USA Today, Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, and Indiebound, among others.

Readers on amazon.co.uk commented on ‘Red Notice’:

“This is one of the most captivating and interesting books I have read in a long time.”

“If you start this book, you will keep reading until you have finished, stopping only to weep and also to email your friends to read it, too.”

“This deeply disturbing, tempestuous and Kafkaesque story is written in a no-nonsense and racy style that makes it easy to read and take in.”

“Surprising & informative.”

“Gripping throughout. One of the best books I’ve read recently.”

‘Red Notice’ is on the bestseller list published by The Sunday Times (http://timesbooks.tbpcontrol.co.uk/TBP.Direct/CustomerAccessControl/Home.aspx?collection=10557072&d=timesbooks&s=C&r=10000414&ui=0&bc=0) in the United Kingdom.

In Canada, ‘Red Notice’ peaked at Number Three as the best-selling book on Amazon.ca.

In New Zealand, it was number six on the Nielsen weekly bestseller list (http://www.booksellers.co.nz/book-news/nzs-bestsellers/nielsen-weekly-bestsellers-lists-week-ending-saturday-28-february).

The Swedish edition of ‘Red Notice’ featured in the top 10 purchases on Aldibris, Sweden’s largest online book retailer, and the Dutch edition of ‘Red Notice’ featured on the Holland “Bestseller 60” list. The German edition also featured on the German bestseller list.

To learn more, visit the ‘Red Notice’ website: http://billbrowder.com

For more information, please contact:

Magnitsky Justice Campaign