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| Former Donbass militia leader awarded $4,600 in damages from Bellingcat over claims he was involved in downing of MH17 in Ukraine | Former Donbass militia leader awarded $4,600 in damages from Bellingcat over claims he was involved in downing of MH17 in Ukraine |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| A court in St. Petersburg has ordered investigative group Bellingcat to pay 340,000 rubles ($4,600) to Igor Bezler, a former separatist commander in the Donbass, over an article that linked him to the downing of flight MH17. | A court in St. Petersburg has ordered investigative group Bellingcat to pay 340,000 rubles ($4,600) to Igor Bezler, a former separatist commander in the Donbass, over an article that linked him to the downing of flight MH17. |
| On July 17, 2014, a Malaysia Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down while flying over Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast, at a time when heavy fighting was taking place in the area. | On July 17, 2014, a Malaysia Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down while flying over Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast, at a time when heavy fighting was taking place in the area. |
| The incident was investigated by the Dutch Safety Board (DSB) and the Dutch-led joint investigation team (JIT), who came to the conclusion that the plane was brought down by a Buk surface-to-air missile. The JIT claimed that the Buk originated in Russia. The Russian government has denied all involvement. | The incident was investigated by the Dutch Safety Board (DSB) and the Dutch-led joint investigation team (JIT), who came to the conclusion that the plane was brought down by a Buk surface-to-air missile. The JIT claimed that the Buk originated in Russia. The Russian government has denied all involvement. |
| In 2019, the Western-state-funded group Bellingcat wrote an article linking Igor Bezler to the plane’s downing. At the time of the incident, Bezler was a commander fighting for the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, a breakaway unrecognized state in eastern Ukraine. According to Bellingcat, intercepted calls show that he was informed by a subordinate that a “birdie” was flying towards him. Bellingcat also claimed that he gave the instructions to report the message about the plane “upwards.” In another intercept, Bezler – who goes by the call sign ‘Bes’ – allegedly reported the downing to a Russian military intelligence officer. | In 2019, the Western-state-funded group Bellingcat wrote an article linking Igor Bezler to the plane’s downing. At the time of the incident, Bezler was a commander fighting for the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, a breakaway unrecognized state in eastern Ukraine. According to Bellingcat, intercepted calls show that he was informed by a subordinate that a “birdie” was flying towards him. Bellingcat also claimed that he gave the instructions to report the message about the plane “upwards.” In another intercept, Bezler – who goes by the call sign ‘Bes’ – allegedly reported the downing to a Russian military intelligence officer. |
| According to Bezler, the published article caused him damage. He asked the court for 500,000 rubles ($6,800) in compensation, and was granted 340,000 rubles ($4,600) of the claim. | According to Bezler, the published article caused him damage. He asked the court for 500,000 rubles ($6,800) in compensation, and was granted 340,000 rubles ($4,600) of the claim. |
| The lawyer representing Bellingcat, Sarkis Darbinyan from the Digital Rights Center, told Russian online publication, the Insider, that his client would appeal. | The lawyer representing Bellingcat, Sarkis Darbinyan from the Digital Rights Center, told Russian online publication, the Insider, that his client would appeal. |
| Bezler has long denied claims that he bears some responsibility for the shooting down of MH17. For example, in 2016, after he was accused of allowing a Buk launcher to pass through territory he controlled, he mocked a video reconstruction made by the Joint Investigation Team of the missile being transported as “animated science fiction.” | Bezler has long denied claims that he bears some responsibility for the shooting down of MH17. For example, in 2016, after he was accused of allowing a Buk launcher to pass through territory he controlled, he mocked a video reconstruction made by the Joint Investigation Team of the missile being transported as “animated science fiction.” |
| If you like this story, share it with a friend! | If you like this story, share it with a friend! |