Video: Malaysia Receives MH17 Black Boxes

Below is the video of the handling over of the two MH17 black boxes from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) to Malaysian team in Ukraine.

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Malaysia Received MH17 Black Boxes, Remains Left Torez For Kharkiv

A Malaysian investigator, left, takes a black box from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 as it is handed over by a Donetsk People’s Republic official in the city of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine Tuesday, July 22, 2014. Bowing to international pressure Monday, pro-Moscow separatists released a train packed with bodies and handed over the black boxes from the downed Malaysia Airlines plane, four days after it plunged into rebel-held eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

Five days after Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was allegedly shot out of the sky, Malaysian government had succeeded to establish contact with those in charge of the MH17 crash site.

On July 22, 2014, Malaysian Prime Minister spoke to Alexander Borodai who is in command of the region where the tragedy occurred and established an agreement for Malaysia to recover the remains of the victims and the MH17 black boxes.

(Please click here for: “Prime Minister Najib Razak Statement on MH17 Agreement.”)

Malaysian officials received the two MH17 black boxes from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in Ukraine.

Members of the media take pictures as a pro-Russian separatist places black boxes belonging to Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 on a desk, before their handover to Malaysian representatives, in Donetsk July 22, 2014. The remains of some of the 298 victims of the Malaysia Airlines plane downed over Ukraine were making their way to the Netherlands on Tuesday as senior Ukrainian separatist leader Aleksander Borodai handed over the plane’s black boxes to Malaysian experts. REUTERS/Maxim Zmeyev

The black boxes, which record cockpit activity and flight data, were handed to Malaysian officials by the prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Alexander Borodai, in front of journalists at the DPR government headquarters in Donetsk.

AFP reported Alexander Borodai as saying, “We will order a ceasefire in an area of 10 kilometres around” the site of the disaster, which killed all 298 people on board the plane.

The DPR leader Alexander Borodai thanked Malaysia and the Netherlands for sending teams here on Monday to resolve the MH17 matter:

“(Our) thanks to Malaysia and Netherlands for coming here without protection or help from Kiev (the Ukrainian government),” he said, according to a rough translation by a local – The Star.

The DPR and Malaysian officials later signed various documents at the handover ceremony .

A representative (seated L) from pro-Russian separatists and Colonel Mohamed Sakri (seated R) of the Malaysian National Security Council sign documents after the handing over of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17’s black boxes, in Donetsk July 22, 2014. The remains of some of the 298 victims of the Malaysia Airlines plane downed over Ukraine were making their way to the Netherlands on Tuesday as Senior Ukrainian separatist leader Aleksander Borodai (back L, in blue blazer) handed over the plane’s black boxes to Malaysian experts. REUTERS/Maxim Zmeyev

The Star reported that DPR produced a white sack containing the black boxes which were then inspected and accepted by the Malaysian officials.

A Malaysian expert (C) examines a black box belonging to Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 during its handover from pro-Russian separatists, in Donetsk July 22, 2014. The remains of some of the 298 victims of the Malaysia Airlines plane downed over Ukraine were making their way to the Netherlands on Tuesday as Senior Ukrainian separatist leader Aleksander Borodai handed over the plane’s black boxes to Malaysian experts. REUTERS/Maxim Zmeyev

Malaysian National Security Council’s Kol Mohd Shukri then thanked Alexander Borodai for handing the boxes back to Malaysia, saying:

“I would like to convey our sincere appreciation to Borodai for giving us the opportunity and entertaining our special request to hand over the two black boxes to Malaysia.” – The Star.

DPR had released the remains of the victims which had been taken by train to the city of Kharkiv accompanied by six Malaysian members of the recovery team.

The train is expected to arrive in Kharkiv on Tuesday where the remains will be handed over to representatives from the Netherlands and later to be flown to Amsterdam on board a Dutch C130 Hercules, together with the Malaysian team.

Following any necessary forensic work, the remains of Malaysian citizens will then be flown home to Malaysia.

Please click the photos for larger images:

A pro-Russian fighter places a black box from the crashed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 on a table while handing it over from Donetsk People’s Republic officials to Malaysian representatives in the city of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine Tuesday, July 22, 2014. Bowing to international pressure Monday, pro-Moscow separatists released a train packed with bodies and handed over the black boxes from the downed Malaysia Airlines plane, four days after it plunged into rebel-held eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

Senior Ukrainian separatist leader Aleksander Borodai (C) speaks during a handover of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17′s black boxes to Colonel Mohamed Sakri (centre R, in red) of the Malaysian National Security Council, in Donetsk July 22, 2014. The remains of some of the 298 victims of the Malaysia Airlines plane downed over Ukraine were making their way to the Netherlands on Tuesday as Borodai handed over the plane’s black boxes to Malaysian experts.

Prime Minister Najib Razak Statement on MH17 Agreement

Tuesday, July 22, 12:45 AM GMT +0800 Prime Minister Najib Razak Statement on MH17 Agreement

In recent days, we have been working behind  the scenes to establish contact with those in charge of the MH17 crash site.

That contact has now been made. Under difficult and fluid circumstances, we have been discussing the problems that have occupied us all: securing vital evidence from the aircraft, launching an independent investigation, and above all recovering the remains of those who lost their lives.

Tonight, we have established the basis of an agreement to do just that.

Earlier this evening I spoke to Alexander Borodai, who is in command of the region where the tragedy occurred. We have agreed the following:

Firstly, the remains of 282 people, currently in Torez, will be moved by train to Kharkiv, where they will be handed over to representatives from the Netherlands. The train will depart this evening Ukraine time, and will be accompanied by six Malaysian members of the recovery team. The remains will then be flown to Amsterdam on board a Dutch C130 Hercules, together with the Malaysian team. Following any necessary forensic work, the remains of Malaysian citizens will then be flown home to Malaysia.

Secondly, at approximately 9pm tonight Ukraine time, the two black boxes will be handed over to a Malaysian team in Donetsk, who will take custody of them.

Thirdly, independent international investigators will be guaranteed safe access to the crash site to begin a full investigation of the incident.

I must stress that although agreement has been reached, there remain a number of steps required before it is completed.

There is work still to be done, work which relies on continued communication in good faith. Mr Borodai and his people have so far given their co-operation.

I ask that all parties continue to work together to ensure that this agreement is honoured; that the remains of our people are returned, that the black box is handed over, and that the international team is granted full access to the site.

Only then can the investigation into MH17 truly begin; only then can the victims be afforded the respect they deserve. We need to know what caused the plane to crash, and who was responsible for it, so that justice may be done.

In recent days, there were times I wanted to give greater voice to the anger and grief that the Malaysian people feel. And that I feel. But sometimes, we must work quietly in the service of a better outcome.

I understand that for the families, nothing can undo this damage. The lives taken cannot be given back; the dignity lost cannot be regained.

My heart reaches out to those whose loved ones were lost on MH17. We hope and pray that the agreement reached tonight helps bring them a clear step towards closure.