Lawsuit blames Ukrainian rebel leader for MH17 crash

CHICAGO, July 16 (UPI) -- A lawsuit filed on behalf of relatives of 18 passengers aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 accuses the former separatist commander in Ukraine of being involved in shooting down the plane.

The suit, filed Wednesday in Chicago, names Igor Strelkov, also known as Igor Girkin, with acting with the "actual of apparent" authority of the Russian government when the plane, traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down on July 17, 2014.

The crash killed all 298 people aboard. The lawsuit, which seeks $900 million in damages, was filed on behalf of relatives of 18 passengers.

The court filing states, "Flight 17 flew over the airspace of the area in which the aforesaid rebel army was waging its war activities, and the rebel army under the command responsibility of defendant Girkin shot down the subject Boeing 777-200 aircraft."

Floyd Wisner, attorney for the plaintiffs, said the U.S. Torture Victim Protection Act is being used to bring the case against Girkin in a U.S. court. Wisner added the case "is not about money. It is about getting answers from Girkin and putting pressure on Russia to cooperate."

Although the Kremlin has denied it, there is growing evidence the plane was shot down by a Russian-made missile provided to pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine. A final report on the incident by the Dutch Safety Board is expected in October.

Russia has repeatedly rejected demands for a United Nations tribunal to investigate the crash and prosecute suspects.

Acting prior to the first anniversary of the crash, the Kremlin released a statement noting Putin has "explained Russia's position regarding the premature and counterproductive initiatives of several countries, including the Netherlands, on the establishment of an international tribunal."