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MH17 Trial Resumes Briefly Amid Coronavirus Restrictions

RFE/RL

   The trial in absentia of three Russians and a Ukrainian charged with
   multiple counts of murder over the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight
   MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 resumed briefly at The Hague on
   Tuesday amid coronavirus restrictions.

   The Dutch judges in the trial read out several preliminary decisions
   before ruling to adjourn the case until June 8 in order to give the
   defense lawyers of one of the accused more time to prepare their case.

   The courtroom was almost empty during the 45-minute session, which was
   livestreamed on the Internet due to restrictions aimed at slowing the
   spread of the coronavirus.

   Flight MH17 was shot down July 17, 2014, by a Russian-made Buk missile
   fired from territory in eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian
   separatists.

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