Crash of МН17 flight of Boeing 777 operated by Malaysia Airlines on July 17, 2014 in eastern Ukraine became the starting point for the confrontation in Europe in the 21st century. From that moment, the military conflict escalated from

confrontation between Ukraine and Russia into the international area, affecting new players. During the investigation, it was found that the plane was shot down by a Russian Buk M1 missile system from the territory controlled by pro-Russian militants. The first court hearing in the case is scheduled on March 9, 2020.

It is worth mentioning that except for the battlefields, modern conflicts suppose confrontation of ideologies and psychological pressure on the enemy. Primarily, on the public, as far as public opinion in democratic states is of great importance, and such pressure has repeatedly changed the political agenda. Russia does not miss a chance to resort to such method of pressure. To this end, the Russian leadership, spares no expense buyimg journalists and other “opinion leaders” in Western Europe.

Ahead of upcoming court hearings in MH17 case, such representatives of the journalistic community become increasingly active. Let’s consider some of them.

The first to be mentioned is, of course, the Dutch journalist and blogger Max van der Werff, famous for his film “MH-17 – Call for Justice“. Even if you do not take into account the mere fact that the film was created in close cooperation with Russian journalists from the Russia Today TV channel – the main propagandist of the Russian Federation, there are still many questions regarding the author’s impartiality.

Max van der Werff and Russian journalist (RT) Yana Yerlashova

during at the presentation of MH17 – Call for Justice movie

In addition, the author is a frequent guest of the information medias associated with pro-Russian insurgents, where he constantly tries to promote the position beneficial for them and for the Russian authorities.

The part of Max van der Werff`s speech in pro-Russian militants «Sense of Truth» show (Novorossiya TV)

In his 28-minute film, the author claims that the tragedy of the airliner should become a covering action for the invasion of NATO forces in eastern Ukraine. The author calls the evidence of Russia’s involvement in the tragedy “fiction and lies”. Suffice it to say that back in 2015, Mr. der Werff in one of his investigations mentioned a witness who saw “the plane shot down by a Ukrainian Su-25 battleplane” through binoculars. Apparently the pseudo-witness was not informed that Su-series aircrafts at a height of 10 kilometers were not designed for attacking air targets. When it was finally proved that the liner was shot down by MANPADS missile, der Werff immediately removed the video of the interview with pseudo-witness from his channel.

The part of Max van der Werff`s interview on Billy Six channel,

which contains the reference to the witness, who saw Ukrainian military jet

We should make a slight digression and note that after providing irrefutable evidence of the involvement of the Russian Buk in the tragedy, the Russian party proceeded to developing the concept of shifting blame on the Ukraine for failure to close the airspace. Actually, all pro-Kremlin forces in Europe are trying to adhere to a similar strategy.

However, let’s turn back to those who attempt to prove Russia’s non-involvement in the tragedy. This is German journalist Claudia Zimmermann, who early in October 2019 published her appeal setting forth the facts of Ukraine’s involvement in the tragedy of the airliner.

The part of Claudia Zimmermann`s appeal from her official channel

To begin with, she claims that no one consider the conclusions of the Malaysian party that the plane could have been shot down by a fighter. This is evidenced by alleged findings of the German private investigative company Wifka, namely its head Josef Resch. Back in 2016, Mr. Resch claimed that he had evidence of Ukrainian Air Force’s guilt, even knowing the name of a fighter pilot. At the same time, the Dutch prosecutor’s office and other governmental offices involved in the investigation called his allegations unsubstantiated.

The part of correspondence of Josef Resch and Dutch prosecution office, which contains information about the existence of witness. Information is taken from wifka.de source

To proceed further, Zimmermann accuses the Holland and German authorities of indulging the United States and Ukraine in their attempts to hide the truth. Actually, that was not for the first time when she accused German authorities. That is due to such an active position as regards accusation of German authorities she became so popular in Russian media. Her investigation into “hiding the facts of the attack on German women in Cologne by refugees from North Africa instigated by Chancellor Angela Merkel personally“ on the eve of the new year 2016 made a significant input in such closer attention. In January 2016, Zimmermann announced at the Dutch radio station L1 that her colleagues from the WDR channel were compelled under pressure to voice a pro-government position as regards the events in the state. After that, she became a regular guest of RT – Russian TV channel in Germany.

The part of Claudia Zimmerman`s speech on RT Deutsch, which mentioned censorship in WDR channel

However, let’s go on. Another debunker of the Ukraine’s involvement in the tragedy was Florian Rotzer, German journalist who rose during the last month, and managed to repeatedly declare Russia’s leading role in world politics. Mr. Rotzer is the editor and co-founder of the Telepolis, online edition owned by German Heinz Heise with IT specialization, which is best known for uncovering of the deployment of elements of the ECHELON intelligence system in Europe. Rotzer has degree in philosophy, which creates no preclusion for him to write on geopolitical agenda and revealie conspiracy theories.

Examples of Florian Rotzer`s publications on Telepolis web source

However, the most notable of all the accusers of the Ukraine is former professor of international relations at the University of Sussex Kees van der Pijl. Together with other journalists Hector Reban and the aforementioned Max van der Werff, he has already criticized the investigation conduct, traditionally calling it prejudiced and defaming Russia. It appears that the MH17 agenda and the finding a perpetrator is of a great importance for the professor. Probably, that is why he presented his book “MH17, Ukraine and the New Cold War” on May 17, 2019 in Moscow, although he published the book in spring, 2018. Apparently, it did not find its reader in Europe, or the presentation was deliberately scheduled for such dates to ignite an information panic.

The cover of Kees van der Pijl`s book (German and Russian versions)

Also, van der Pijl seeks to attend all the events associated with the tragedy of MH17, especially organized by the Russia.

Kees van der Pijl and Yana Yerlashova at the presentation of MH17 – Call for Justice movie in Hague (Oct.24 2019)

Why is then Mr. van der Pijl so interesting? To begin with, unlike all the above mentioned personalities, he has “higher social significance” due to his professor title. To be precise, he is a former professor. He decided to resign on March 14, 2019, after the University of Sussex initiated an investigation of anti-Semitism allegations against him and demanded an apology from the professor.

That was caused by professor’s aggressive accusations of Israel and the Zionists in the US government in September 11 attacks. Later, a former professor accused the university executives of corruption and conniving the Israeli lobby.

Posts from official Twitter-account of Kees van der Pijl and from his personal site on Sept.11 attacks and Zionist lobby

This time, Mr. van der Pijl sets about seeking the truth in MH17 case. It seems a striking coincidence that on July 16, 2019, the day before the fifth anniversary of the tragedy, he published the results of his investigations in the above mentioned Telepolis.

The article of Kees van der Pijl on Telepolis source, dedicated to the tragedy of MH-17

Needless to say, all the persons listed above are only a small part of those who are trying to influence public opinion in Europe as regards МН17 tragedy. It is doubtful that such individuals may really form the common opinion of the international community, since as they are nonliquid even in their homeland, they are primarily oriented at the Russian layman. But there are other, much more authoritative opinion leaders. One should only mention the huge network of quasi European media funded directly from the Russian budget.



And finally, we must admit, this is the case when we do not set the goal of making fun of another conspiracy theorists, anti-Semites or urban madmen. In a free world, any point of view deserves the right to life.

In no way we are seeking to identify sinners and saints. We only call you to reflect and analyze the information received instead of blind succession of those who impose it. Especially those who struggle to protect the party to the conflict, or even the possible perpetrator of the tragedy.