Russia’s evidence in MH17 probe was provided – and ignored

It is very sad that by reprinting the article from the Washington Post, The Nation once again supplied its readers with barefaced lies. I have no intention of commenting on every single lie in this hostile libel. However, I cannot keep silent with regard to its completely flawed starting point: “All the while, Russia has refused to cooperate with the international inquiries.” The reality is quite the opposite.
It is Russia that has not been invited to take part in the investigation conducted by the Netherlands. It is Russia’s evidence, including detailed technical data, that has not been taken into consideration.
Since the tragic downing of Malaysia Airlines MH17 in July 2014 over Ukraine’s Donetsk region, Russia has provided the Dutch side with all possible assistance and persistently called for maximum transparency in the inquiry process.
Russia was all in favour of UN Security Council Resolution 2166 demanding that the tragedy be fully and independently investigated and defining the criteria for the international inquiry.
It would take several pages to tell the readers about all the efforts taken by Russia to facilitate the investigation (you can find them on the websites of the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Embassy in Bangkok). I will mention just a few things.
From the very beginning, the Russian Attorney General’s Office was in close touch with Dutch experts and investigators. Upon their request, the Russian side declassified and shared the BUK missile’s technical and engineering information as well as the results of the field experiment conducted by Almaz-Antay Corp, the manufacturer of BUK missiles. In addition, Russia sent the initial radar data vital for the inquiry. None of this evidence was taken into account. 
Meanwhile, there are many questions to be asked. Why does the Dutch side persist in refusing to assess the root cause of the tragedy – that the Ukrainian side failed to fulfil its obligations stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and did not close the air space over its internal conflict zone to civil flights? 
Why is Ukraine still hiding information about the MH17 flight? Why did the US refuse to share its radar data?
There are different versions of what happened in this tragedy, but no one considers them. This clearly points to the initially biased character of the investigation process. It looks like the Western investigators simply did not need any Russian expertise or assistance because they already decided for themselves who is guilty. Without serious scrutiny!
It is very sad that the Western media are behaving like a bully in a market squabble – yelling loudly, pointing fingers, blaming and shaming to make everyone believe their lies. Russia never slips into this kind of “PR exercise”. We always provide hard evidence with a cool head. 
Having said that, it will be impossible to accept the findings of the commission, which is working without Russia. Nothing would make us trust these findings. This will not happen unless there is a full-fledged investigation and unless we fully participate in it.
My hope is that readers of The Nation will never trust allegations not supported by facts either.
Kirill Barsky
Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Thailand