Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was allegedly shot down on Thursday, and three days later, the crime scene is still not secured. The pro-Russian forces in east Ukraine are not allowing anyone except their own people to access the site. Donetsk People’s Republic’s self-proclaimed Prime Minister Alexander Borodai, a Russian citizen from Moscow, asked Russia to help with the investigation.
“Bodies of innocent people are lying out in the heat. We reserve the right, if the delay continues … to begin the process of taking away the bodies. We ask the Russian Federation to help us with this problem and send their experts,” he told reporters.
Borodai said Kiev is not allowing experts to enter the scene, but journalists on the scene contradict his statement. On Saturday, Max Seddon from Buzzfeed counted 82 bodies–some decomposing in the heat. He also said body parts are shoveled into bags. The rebels in charge will not tell anyone anything. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe are on the scene, but Seddon and other journalists said the rebels are keeping these experts on the side of the road.
Counted 82 bodies at #MH17 site. Some in body bags by the side of the road. Others decomposing in the heat. Parts being shoveled into sacks.
— max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2014
Nobody doing much with the bodies. Ambulances carrying rebels to and from #MH17 site. Aid workers seemed to have been drinking overnight.
— max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2014
DNR gunmen stop @OSCE on road to site of flight #MH17. Finally let them out, “but only on the road, not the field.” pic.twitter.com/n2XM4MZkZ4
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) July 19, 2014
Anywhere else, a plane crash site would be roped off & crawling w investigators. Not here. Just us, rebels, & local emergency workers #MH17
— Kirit Radia (@KiritRadia) July 19, 2014
The Russian government said Kiev and the rebels must allow experts to do their job.
“The Russian side appeals to both sides of the Ukrainian conflict, urging them to do everything possible to enable access for international experts to the airplane crash area in order to take action necessary for the investigation,” said the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Kiev accused the rebels of destroying evidence, but the pro-Russians claim they have not touched anything.
“The terrorists, with the help of Russia, are trying to destroy evidence of international crimes,” said the Ukrainian government. “The terrorists have taken 38 bodies to the morgue in Donetsk.”
They also said people with strong Russian accents performed the autopsies. Seddon tweeted that the rebels are not telling anyone where the bodies are going and that there is no chance for a real investigation. Other journalists posted pictures, as well.
At this stage, any talk of a credible #MH17 investigation is ridiculous. It’ll be a small miracle if relatives get the bodies semi-intact.
— max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2014
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