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Volodymyr Tsemakh, here in Kiev court on 5 September 2019, was released by Ukraine to the chagrin of the Dutch. REUTERS / Serhii Nuzhnenko

Ukraine and Russia made this Saturday, September 7 an unprecedented exchange of 70 prisoners after 5 years of conflict. But among these men, Ukraine released Volodymyr Tsemakh. His name is quoted in the investigation of the crash of flight MH17 of Malaysia Airlines occurred 5 years ago

With our correspondent in Brussels, Laxmi Lota

196 Dutchmen perished in this air disaster that has totaled nearly 300 dead. The Government of the Netherlands therefore " deeply " regrets this decision. Volodymyr Tsemakh, 58, is a former military leader of pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. Around 40 MEPs have described him this week as a "key suspect" in the MH17 case.

The Dutch Foreign Minister claims to have consulted Kiev " several times and at the highest level " to prevent the prisoner from being handed over to Russia. But according to a senior Ukrainian official, Russia refused any exchange of prisoners if Kiev did not deliver him the former military leader.

In the Netherlands, the prosecution did have the opportunity to question the suspect before his departure, but he wanted to " hear it again ", according to the minister. The public prosecutor therefore asked Russia to deliver Volodymyr Tsemakh.