International expert:Transportation of bodies from the scene of Boeing-777 crash is a priority for us

Transportation of bodies from the crash site of Malaysia Airlines MH17 and their identification is a priority, said Kees van Baar, the representative of the Embassy of the Netherlands at a briefing at the Ukrainian crisis media center. The event was also attended by Ertugrul Apakan, the Chairman of the OSCE Mission to Ukraine and Volodymyr Hroisman, the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Head of the State Commission for the Investigation of the circumstances of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 crash.

Representative of the Embassy of the Netherlands Kees van Baar said that the main task now was the transportation of dead bodies from the scene of the tragedy and their subsequent identification. This work, according to the diplomat, should be conducted by Ukrainian specialists involving international experts. The expert also thanked the Australian Embassy in Ukraine for support in the investigation. Overall, the diplomat said, “although the situation is tense, the efforts of the Ukrainian Government are encouraging."

Ertugrul Apakan, the Chairman of the OSCE mission in Ukraine, in his turn, praised the efforts of the Ukrainian Government to investigate the circumstances of the tragedy, but noted that experts still did not have opportunities for a full investigation.

"21 OSCE observers went immediately after the tragedy. In the first day terrorists did not allow specialists to the crash site, the next day the observers obtained limited access," he said. The diplomat also underlined that Ukrainian specialists took an active part in the investigation. 

Volodymyr Hroisman confirmed that terrorists were strongly hindering the work of professionals, not giving them full access to the wreckage and opportunities to gather material evidence. Moreover, the Vice Prime Minister said that the militants provided limited access to the crash site to employees of the State Emergency Services of Ukraine engaged in seeking work. Representatives of other relevant agencies, including the National Bureau of Investigation, were unable to fully explore the scene of the tragedy. According to the official, "We have no doubt as to who shot down the plane."

According to Volodymyr Hroisman, employees of the State Emergency Service under the supervision of the militants loaded 192 dead bodies and 8 body parts into a special train. They are properly sealed. But the terrorists do not let start transportation, so to figure out finally what was the treatment with the bodies will be able, when the train arrives at a safe place. In addition, in the recent hours, 27 bodies and 20 body parts were found. These bodies are still at the site, the special refrigerator car has been dispatched.