It would be a good thing if Igor Girkin, suspect in the MH17 trial, was "grabbed by the neck" and extradited to the Netherlands, responds MH17 relative Piet Ploeg, chairman of Stichting Vliegramp MH17. Ukraine is offering a reward of $100,000 for tips leading to the transfer of the Russian to Ukraine. According to Ukrainian media, the man is currently at the front in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine sees Girkin as "one of the most famous Russian terrorists" and wants to try him itself for his "participation in the war against our state". The man is also wanted by the Netherlands, because he is seen as one of the perpetrators of the downing of flight MH17. The man was previously sentenced to life imprisonment by the Public Prosecution Service.

According to Ploeg, there are many relatives who closely follow the developments surrounding the Russian. "The miracles are not over yet," he thinks, referring to the possibility that Girkin will be arrested. He also says that he hopes that the criminal case will not be delayed. The verdict in the case is scheduled for November 17, a moment that many relatives have been waiting for, according to him.

All 298 people on board were killed in the plane crash on July 17, 2014. Among them were many Dutch. The plane was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, but was shot down over eastern Ukraine, where an armed battle was going on at the time.

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* Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)