Answers to last week's 13 most frequently asked questions

Here is the answer to last week's 13 most frequently asked questions

1: Did you enter Ukraine illegally?

I entered the DNR not through Ukraine but through Russia. Since Ukraine does not recognize the DNR as a country, this is illegal in their eyes. I should note, however, that we are allowed to travel visa-free in Ukraine. My purpose of the trip was to highlight the other side of the story, the DNR story. It would be illogical to visit via the enemy.

2: Have you been approached by the Russian government?

No. However, we did approach the Russian government. This for the application for our transit visas. During that application, we visited the Russian consulate in The Hague to explain our visa application. Other than that contact, we were never approached by the Russian government.

3: Did Graham tell you to go to the disaster site?

It did come up, of course, but I made the choice to go to the disaster site myself. It wasn't actually in the planning either and came unexpectedly. Graham, like Stefan, was also not with me during my visit.

4: Have you no doubt that someone put that bone part in the shed before your arrival?

That's something I always take extra into account. Not only in this case, but you always have to be wary of not being influenced by your surroundings. But no, I don't doubt that. Hardly anyone knew I was going to visit the place. I determined our route myself and chose where we walked. In addition, I filmed the entire visit.

5: You say you are doing it for the bereaved. Why so disrespectful in a garbage bag?

Using that word in conjunction with that poll is the biggest mistake I made. I also immediately apologized for that to the next of kin. I packed all the parts separately when I got back to the hotel, packing the bone part extra. I handled the items with great respect, they definitely did not come back to the Netherlands in a garbage bag.

6: That poll? Why did you do that?

I wanted to make a point. I do tend to be sarcastic on Twitter, with occasional black humor. This was, in retrospect, highly inappropriate. Especially towards the relatives. I never meant it that way, I sincerely apologized for it and I do so again.

7: Why not just take pictures, did you really have to take it back to Holland?

That was a consideration. At the time, I myself was enormously surprised, also a little angry. I never thought there would be so much left there. At that time I could not determine with certainty all the items. For example, while I thought it was a bone part, I didn't know if it was human. The only way to find out was thorough research. With just a photograph, I couldn't get DNA testing done.

8: Why did you say goodbye to Beck before leaving the plane?

Stefan was not there the day I went to the MH17 disaster site. He only learned later that I had taken things with me. While he supported this in part, he found it more than reprehensible that I had possibly taken human remains with me. Because we weren't sure how it would be reacted to in the Netherlands, we agreed that he would distance himself. I didn't want him to get into trouble because of me.

9: Why were you trying to smuggle things out of Schiphol?

Nonsense. On the contrary, I have been very open with the research team from day one. The agreement was also that I would hand it over voluntarily at Schiphol Airport. Things went wrong when the research team wanted a copy of all my data. Of data that had nothing to do with MH17. And also all the data on my phone and laptop. I refused in order to protect my sources. Then the trouble started and they confiscated everything.

10: You took things from a crime scene. That's not allowed. Why did you do that?

As far as I know, the investigation is closed and no one from the investigation team has been there in the last year and nine months. So it remains to be seen whether it is not allowed at all. I find it outrageous that something is still lying around two and a half years after the disaster. In my view, those things don't belong in an open field or in an open shed anyway. They belong in the Netherlands, in my opinion. In addition, research was needed on the items. The DNR also stated in a press statement that I had all the permits to do what I was doing.  

11: How was it that Beck took your bag?

We had traveled with shared luggage the weeks before with 4/5 bags and suitcases. During the visit to DNR, we constantly repacked bags depending on what we needed that day. The night before departure I repacked all the MH17 stuff in 1 of the bags. At Schiphol Airport there was some confusion about this. When I saw Stefan packing the wrong bag, I immediately spoke to him. Within a minute, a few meters from the baggage belt, the bag was already with me. We then proceeded with the luggage to a police room at Schiphol.

12: When do you repent for taking human remains?

I support the decision to take the human remains back to the Netherlands. First, because otherwise we wouldn't have known today if it really was human remains. Many of the next of kin who have approached me in recent days do not feel that there may be remains of loved ones lying there. I think they are right to ask the government to take another look at it.

13: Are you still the "criminal" you used to be?

It is very cheap of some people to attack me on my past. I was in contact with justice between 2004 and 2006, I then served my sentence and picked up where I left off. In the meantime, I have been a committee member, won an award from MinBZ and have not been in touch with the justice system again. That we would be a country where you have equal opportunities after being tried feels like nonsense to me. This is a daily struggle for me.