The trial of four men suspected in the downing of MH17 started on Monday in Amsterdam, more than five years after the Malaysian Airlines plane was shot down as it flew over eastern Ukraine.
Prosecutors say the suspects, three Russians and a Ukrainian, helped organise the Russian missile system used to shoot down MH17, a civilian aircraft.
The suspects, who are believed to be in Russia, face preliminary charges of the murder of 298 people and of causing the aircraft to crash, resulting in the death of all on board.
Head judge Hendrik Steenhuis introduced the trial, saying: "Many have longed for this process for a long time ... The next of kin of these 298 deceased enjoy legal rights given to victims."
MH17 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014, when it was shot down by a missile fired from territory held by pro-Moscow rebels amid fighting in eastern Ukraine. Russia has denied any involvement.
A Dutch-led international Joint Investigation Team (JIT) spent years collecting evidence before issuing arrest warrants last year for the four suspects: Russians Sergey Dubinsky, Oleg Pulatov and Igor Girkin, and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko.
Girkin has said rebels were not responsible and declined further comment. Others could not be reached for comment.
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