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MH17 Suspect to be Released

RFE/RL

   A court in Kyiv has released Volodymyr Tsemakh, a suspect in the
   downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) five years ago, as
   Russian President Vladimir Putin said a prisoner swap with Ukraine is
   nearing completion.

   The Kyiv Court of Appeal handed down the ruling on Thursday, saying
   Tsemakh should be released immediately on his own recognizance.

   A Ukrainian national, Tsemakh reportedly oversaw an air-defense unit
   among Russia-backed separatists in a town near where the jet came down.

   An international Dutch-led investigation has already concluded that the
   commercial airliner was shot down by a Russian-made Buk missile that
   was fired in territory held by Moscow-backed separatists and has said
   it would like to question Tsemakh over the tragedy.

   The ruling comes amid talks between Moscow and Kyiv on a prisoner swap
   that unconfirmed reports have said includes Tsemakh.

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