A few weeks before the start of the FIFA World Cup, relatives of passengers who died in the crash of flight MH17 near Donetsk in 2014 wrote an open letter to the citizens of Russia. This message, signed by the relatives of the victims of the MH17 flight, was sent to the editorial office of the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta by John O'Brien. His 25-year-old son Jack O'Brien died in a plane crash in Donbas on July 17, 2014.

On behalf of all families of the victims he asked to publish their appeal to the Russians.

"To write a letter we were pushed by the fact that the World Cup will be held on the territory of Russia, and it will be opened by people whom we consider guilty of the death of our loved ones. - writes O'Brien. "I played football for most of my life, but quit this game a year after Jack died. He also loved football and started playing with 7 years. I can not believe that the Championship will be held here, and Jack is gone ».

Relatives of the perplexed wonder how they should react to the fact that the FIFA World Cup-2018 will be held in Russia.

"Some of us, the authors of this letter, are ardent football fans, although some do not. But none of us will become part of this football championship the way it could be before. All of us, the authors of the message, unite something that gives this Championship and the place where it will pass, a completely different, gloomy meaning " - emphasized in the letter.

"We know that the relationship between Ukraine and Russia has a long history, and there are different points of view about the causes of the conflict 2014 year. There are no ideal states, and ours are also not ideal. Every nation has the right to prosperity, if it does not violate the rights of others. And all parties must speak the truth about their role in the war. But regardless of the circumstances and prehistory, nothing justifies an attack on a civilian plane, because of which all those who were on board perished ", - it is also said in the appeal.

In addition, the authors of the letter note that they share common citizens of the Russian Federation, and those who are responsible for what happened.

"Many of us do not know Russians very well. Mistrust and hatred expire primarily from ignorance, but when we get to know people closer, it changes our views. We believe that the Russian nation has the right to prosperity, just like our own people. It is not easy for us to think about this. In order for our attitude to change, it will take time. We understand that by succumbing to bitterness and hatred, we will become absorbed in them, and uncontrolled interethnic enmity will destroy mankind ", - the letter says.

Relatives of the deceased are assured of the objectivity of the work carried out by the joint investigation team of the representatives of the Netherlands, Ukraine, Belgium, Malaysia and Australia.

“The same cannot be said about the reports about the investigation of the disaster in Donbass published by the Russian state media. In the first months after the tragedy, our families were puzzled by very conflicting versions of what really happened to the airliner. ... "MH17 was shot down by a Ukrainian attack aircraft", "Boeing was attacked by a missile launched at the plane of the President of the Russian Federation", "The plane was already filled with dead bodies, and then was specially shot down." "He was shot down by a BUK missile, but not of Russian origin." This controversial, disturbing, shocking piece of information was circulated a thousand times on social networks. Only later did we understand what goal they were pursuing then. It is part of a coordinated government disinformation campaign aimed at distracting and confusing, creating an alternate reality where all truth is relative and evidence does not carry meaningful weight.

Russian state media, along with private television channels, cooperating with the authorities, are involved in this deceptive and vile campaign. We know that all states, including ours, are not telling the truth, and sometimes they are lying. Will Russians want to live in a country where there is no trace of the truth? Perhaps someone of you thinks that we, too, do not exist, and this letter is an invention? " - says the appeal.

Earlier in the Netherlands, a memorial to the victims of MH17 was unveiled. The sculpture is composed of bronze ribbons with the text "I will not forget you".