Putin authorized the missile that ended up shooting down the Malaysia Airlines plane in 2014 in Ukraine

There are "strong indications" that the Russian president deployed the air defense systems that caused the crash that killed 298 people.

The Malaysia Airlines crash in 2014 could be linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin. An investigation claims that  that Putin authorized a missile that shot down commercial flight MH17 in which 298 people were killed. There are “strong indications” that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally approved the decision to provide separatists in Ukraine with the missile that shot down the Malaysia Airlines flight in 2014, Dutch investigators said Wednesday.

The report outlines that the attack took place "after the separatists ask[ed] for longer-range anti-aircraft systems, their request [was] discussed in the second half of June 2014 at the Presidential Executive Office in Moscow. That is a state body that supports the President. After this, the request for a heavier air defense system [was] presented to the Minister of Defense and the President. The request [was] granted."

A month later, a BUK missile shot down the plane. However, "it is not known whether the request explicitly mentions a Buk system. A little later, the heavier air defense systems are delivered, including the Buk that shoots down MH17."

Putin has immunity

However, Dutch prosecutor Digna van Boertzelaer said that "although a lot of new information has been discovered about various people involved, the evidence gathered is not conclusive enough to lead to convictions in court," according to the Netherlands Public Prosecution Service. Therefore, "no new prosecutions are being initiated at this time." In addition, Putin has immunity due to his position as Head of State.