Russia denies accusation on Malaysian Boeing downing

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia's Foreign Ministry denied allegations Wednesday of military involvement in the downing of a Malaysian Airlines passenger plane in eastern Ukraine in 2014.

The accusations against Russian military provoke "nothing but regret,” said the ministry.

"Once again, the Russian side is being subjected to absolutely unfounded accusations aimed at discrediting the Russian Federation in the eyes of the international community," it said in a statement published on its website.

The joint investigation team (JIT) formed to probe the tragedy used "doubtful source of information" and did not use the data provided by Russia, the ministry said.

The JIT announced Wednesday three Russians and one Ukrainian suspect will face trial for shooting down Malaysian Airlines Flight 17.

The flight departed July 17, 2014, from Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur but was shot down before crashing near Torez in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the Russian border.

A total of 298 people, including 15 crew, were killed in the crash.

The Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine are part of the investigation team.

Russia requested to join the investigation but was denied, giving Ukraine ample time to doctor evidence, the ministry said.

"International investigators removed Moscow from full participation in the JIT, giving Russian efforts only a secondary role. At the same time they made Ukraine a full member of the JIT, giving it the opportunity to forge evidence, as well as to nullify the responsibility for the non-closure of its airspace," the ministry said.

Eastern Ukraine has been wracked by conflict after Russia’s annexation of the peninsula in 2014. Pro-Russian separatists living in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions declared independence in a move not recognized by the international community, including Turkey.

The JIT earlier claimed a BUK TELAR missile was used to down the Malaysian airplane.

According to the JIT report, the missile originated from the 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade -- a unit of the Russian army near the Ukraine border in the Russian Federation.