The lying-in-state ceremony to take place at Kharkiv Airport at 11.00 Kyiv time on 23 July

posted 22 July 2014 22:47

The first plane with 50 bodies of the victims who died in a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash is to leave Kharkiv Airport for the Netherlands on Wednesday. Prior to this, the lying-in-state ceremony will take place at 11.00 Kyiv time, reported 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 at a press conference in Kharkiv.

"The ceremony will begin at 11 o'clock (Kyiv time). It will be attended by diplomats from around the world," he stated.

Volodymyr Hroisman informed that international experts continue to work on the examination of the bodies and are preparing them to be transported to the Netherlands. According to him, this work is to be finished on Friday this week.  

In his turn, Dutch mission head Jan Tuinder reported that experts have examined two of the four train carriages and 200 bodies and fragments of the bodies.

“The only thing I'm sure of is that I'm sure of the number 200. We have great respect for the remains of people. The victims will be identified in Holland so the remains are being placed in coffins ready for transport. Tomorrow we will bring the remains to Holland," said Jan Tuinder.

According to him, the experts continue to examine bodies of the victims that are in the other train carriages.

During a briefing Vice-Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroisman stressed that, in accordance with international law, on behalf of the President and the decision of the Prime Minister of Ukraine as well as the National Bureau of Investigation, Ukraine proposed to the Dutch side to conduct a full investigation into the Boeing 777 disaster together with Ukraine and all sides of the plane crash.  

"We have received a note from the Netherlands regarding readiness for a full investigation involving all parties. This means that the Netherlands will lead this process," said Deputy Prime Minister.