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People hold flags at a memorial to victims of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 plane crash during a ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of the accident near the village of Hrabove in Donetsk Region, Ukraine July 17, 2019. (REUTERS PHOTO)
MOSCOW, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Russia expects an impartial analysis of all the available data in order to establish the real causes behind the 2014 crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday on the fifth anniversary of the incident.
"We urge the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to focus on its main task - an impartial analysis of all the data at its disposal to determine the true causes of the incident and the search for the real perpetrators of this tragedy," the ministry said in a statement.
It called for a "truly depoliticized and professional approach" to the investigation, the statement added.
The MH17 plane crashed in eastern Ukraine on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 people on board. The JIT concluded two years later that a Russian-made Buk missile brought from Russia to eastern Ukraine shot down the airliner.
Moscow and the rebel leadership in eastern Ukraine have repeatedly denied the accusations, saying that the plane was hit by a missile from the territory controlled by Ukrainian government troops.
The Russian ministry said that previously demonstrated evidence, based on "dubious sources of information", indicates that it aims at fitting facts with an "accusatory bias" so as to put the blame on Russia.
It noted that Russia has been cooperating with the Netherlands, although it rejected Moscow's participation in the investigation process and information provided by the Russian side.
"Despite the prejudiced attitude, the Russian side is willing to cooperate. We are convinced that the path to truth lies only through dialogue and cooperation," the ministry said.
In June, Ukraine's authorities brought charges against three Russians and one Ukrainian in organizing and aiding a terrorist act that led to the 2014 air crash. The JIT announced that the four people will be prosecuted for alleged involvement in the downing.
The Russian Foreign Ministry later dismissed charges against the Russian nationals as "absolutely unfounded."
