Dutch Authorities Turn Down Request for UN Probe Into MH17 Disaster: Agency

Relatives of the MH17 plane crash victims requested Dutch investigators to hand over the case to the United Nations. However, the Dutch team has denied.

MOSCOW, December 9 (Sputnik) – The Dutch authorities have refused to hand over the investigation into the MH17 plane crash to the United Nations, Reuters reported Tuesday.

The request was filed by a law firm on behalf of 20 relatives, who said the investigators were unable to build a legal case.

The bereaved families also pleaded with the Dutch government to let a special UN envoy take over the investigation.

In response, Dutch national anti-terrorism coordinator Dick Schoof pointed out that the probe was carried out by experts from a total of 11 nations, including Malaysia, Russia and Ukraine.

The Netherlands is leading the investigation into the tragedy, as two thirds of the 298 people on board were Dutch citizens. A parallel criminal inquiry is conducted by Dutch prosecutors.

According to preliminary findings, the Malaysia Airlines Boeing disintegrated above a conflict-hit area in eastern Ukraine on July 17 after being hit by "a large number of high-energy objects."

On Tuesday, the wreckage of the ill-fated Malaysian airliner arrived at a military air base in the Netherlands. Some 50 relatives of the MH17 crash victims were authorized to watch the arrival. The debris, carried by a convoy of eight trucks, were photographed upon the unloading before experts proceeded to examine them.