MH17 victims' families sue Russian separatist leader for $900million for shooting down the Malaysia Airlines jet over Ukraine a year ago

 

A Russian separatist leader is being sued for $900million (£575m) by the families of victims who died on Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

Igor Girkin has been accused of organising the massacre and working alongside the Kremlin in a writ filed by 18 families, including six British ones, in Chicago on Wednesday.

The Boeing 777, which was travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was downed by a suspected Russian-made BUK missile on July 17 last year, killing 298 passengers and crew. 

According to The Telegraph, the court papers claimed: 'Flight 17 flew over the airspace of the area in which the aforesaid rebel army was waging its war activities and the rebel army under the command responsibility of defendant Girkin shot down the subject Boeing 777-200 aircraft.' 

It added: 'Defendant Girkin acted with the actual or apparent authority of individuals in the Government of Russia.'

The Donetsk People’s Republic, of which Girkin is leader, has vehemently denied responsibility. The Kremlin also strongly refutes the claim it was involved.

The writ comes almost exactly a year after the crash, which saw the commercial jet disappear from the radar while travelling over conflict-hit eastern Ukraine.

Its burning fuselage was later found in a field, with debris, body parts and passengers' luggage strewn across the surrounding area.

 Sourec: dailymail