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 Independent investigators have had little access to the wreckage
of flight MH17 in territory in eastern Ukraine in the hands of
pro-Russian separatists fighting Ukrainian government forces.
Putin made the comments in talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib
Razak on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific conference in China. Najib
called for greater access to the wreckage but Putin disputed the
suggestion that pro-Russia separatists were hindering the
investigation.
"The reference that the territory of the crash site is controlled by
so called pro-Russian separatists is totally ungrounded," Putin
said.
 "It is not them but the opposite side (that is) constantly shelling
the site and doesn't allow full work there," he said, adding that
Russia supported a full and impartial investigation into the downing
of the plane.
The jetliner was brought down on July 17 on a flight from Amsterdam
to Kuala Lumpur. Ukraine and Western countries have accused the
rebels of shooting it down with a Russian-made missile, an
accusation which Russia denies.
Najib, who has promised to bring to justice those responsible, cited
initial investigations which showed the plane was brought down by a
"high energy object" rather than a technical fault with the
aircraft.
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"There are more questions than answers at this stage," he said. "The
most important thing is to have access to the crash site."
(Reporting by Alexei Anishchuk; Writing by Koh Gui Qing; Editing by
Robert Birsel)
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