Lavrov calls for ‘unbiased’ MH17 probe

MOSCOW – Moscow is repeating its calls for an “unbiased and transparent” investigation into the downing of Malaysia Airlines passenger jet in eastern Ukraine in July 2014, after two media reports added to evidence suggesting Russian-backed rebels shot it down. Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke on March 19, after Dutch broadcaster RTL reported that a metal fragment from the crash site of Flight MH17 matches a Russian-made surface-to-air BUK rocket. The 298 people died when the jet was shot. Kyiv and its Western supporters blamed the rebels for the disaster, which stiffened the resolve of Western governments to impose sanctions against both leading separatists and Moscow. Russia has suggested that the airliner was downed by the Ukrainian military. Reuters was among the first news agencies to report on RTL’s claim, and a Reuters report cited residents of a village in a separatist-controlled part in eastern Ukraine as saying they saw a missile flying low overhead on the day of the crash, suggesting it was also fired from rebel-held territory. (RFE/RL, with reporting by TASS and Reuters)