[Foreign Policy] Billy Six, the assassination attempt and the MH17-narrative 2019-04-03

1. The MH17 Connection
2. The Assassination Attempt
3. The Detention

Billy Six is a German journalist for reports from abroad. Six was arrested without warrant on November 17, in Venezuela by the local secret service SEBIN and was released from Venezuelan custody releasen early march 2019. Six was first released under the condition that he reports to authorities every 15 days. In addition he is obliged to secrecy towards other journalists regarding his case. On March 17, Six started the journey back to Germany. See: Billy Six [1] [2] [3]

The MH17 Connection

Strikingly Six has objected to the very weighty and organized narrative about the crash of the MH17. Both British Bellingcat from Eliot Higgins and Correctiv.org from Germany blame the Russian government for the crash of the MH17. And since this version was also adopted by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) under Dutch leadership and because Bellingcat and Correctiv.org are featured in the Integrity Initiative's "Expose Network" it may well be considered the official narrative. But Six questioned this narrative. See: Integrity Initiative

Flight 17 of Malaysia Airlines crashed on July 17, 2014 between 16:20 and 16:25 local time in eastern Ukraine. All 298 passengers deceased in the crash. According to Bellingcat MH17 was shot down by separatists in eastern Ukraine. Based on public sources such as social media and press reports the separatists in eastern Ukraine have launched a Russian Buk anti-aircraft missile system. Bellingcat has been representing this theory since 9 November 2014. [5]

BELLINGCAT: MH17
Bellingcat, an online investigation website, was at the forefront of exposing what happened to the Malaysian airliner MH17. The website published photos that it alleged tracked the movement of a Russian missile linked to the downing of the aircraft. Its findings were examined by a Dutch-led team of investigators, who said that they had a ‘considerable interest’ in Bellingcat’s research output. Bellingcat has since published a comprehensive report that outlines the circumstances surrounding the incident and has gone further than official investigators in naming suspects. [4,p.13]

Correctiv.org from Germany joined this theory on January 9, 2015. Correctiv.org assumes as well that MH17 was shot down by separatists in eastern Ukraine with a Buk anti-aircraft missile system from Russian inventory. However Correctiv.org relies on anonymous testimonies for its own report. [6] [7]

Correctiv and Cicero both benefit from excellent reputations and are widely seen as highly effective organisations, perhaps the most impressive of all potential Network partners. [4,p.74]

The theory of Bellingcat was first adopted by Correctiv.org. The Bellingcat theory was later adopted by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) under Dutch leadership. The Bellingcat report is questionable. What Correctiv.org has done is untrustworthy until they present their anonymous witnesses to the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) for an event in wich 298 people died. [8] [9] [10]

As a result Billy Six did some research in the Ukraine. According to his informations Six interviewed over 120 eyewitnesses and military personnel. But the witnesses who reported to Correctiv.org could not be found by Six. And the theory that a Buk missile hit MH17 is disputed by Six. With that Six questioned the official narrative and probably made himself unpopular. [11] Six confronted Correctiv.org in their office together with journalist Graham Phillips. Both were allowed into the offices of Correctiv.org. In the internal report however this incident is described differently. The internal report states that both have gained access by using force and have offended Correctiv.org. [12] [13,p.5]

In [REDACTED] two pro-Russian man invaded the [REDACTED] office in [REDACTED] and insulted its editors. The two men were [REDACTED], a self-proclaimed journalist, especially in eastern Ukraine, known for his Moscow-faithful coverage, and [REDACTED]. When they first were trying to gain access to the office, they claimed they wanted to talk to the journalist [REDACTED]. He had researched together with [REDACTED] the shooting down of the passenger aircraft MH17 over Ukraine and found out that Russian officers were responsible for the attack. 298 people were killed. The reportage was nominated for the [REDACTED]. [13,p.5]

The Assassination Attempt

In the wake of the crisis in Venezuela Six also reported from Venezuela. However since he has not received a journalism visa he simply reported without one. At the same time the German government has interfered in internal affairs. And since Six is a German citizen the combination of the two may have contributed to him being detained by the authorities in Venezuela.

On August 4, 2018 a failed assassination attempt on the president of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro was committed. Various governments condemned the assassination attempt. The German government however did refused to condemn the assassination attempt against Maduro. That was before the arrest of Six. [14] [15] [16]

On January 23, 2019 Juan Guaido then appointed himself Interim President. And the German Federal Government recognized Juan Guaido like several other EU states in February as the new head of government. However the German Federal Government had no right to do so as confirmed by the scientific service of the Bundestag in a report. That was after the arrest and before the release of Six. [17] [18] [19]

Für die Anerkennung von Regierungen gelten im Völkerrecht im Wesentlichen die gleichen Grundsätze wie für die Anerkennung von Staaten. Nach ganz überwiegender Auffassung in der Völkerrechtswissenschaft hat die Anerkennung grundsätzlich nur deklaratorische, keinen konstitutive Wirkung. Dies führt dazu, dass die Anerkennung durch einen anderen Staat nichts an der Verfassungskonformität oder Verfassungswidrigkeit eines Regierungswechsels ändert, die allein nach innerstaatlichem Recht zu beurteilen bleiben. D.h. die bloße Anerkennung verleiht der neuen Regierung keine Legitimität. ...

For the recognition of governments essentially the same principles apply in international law as for the recognition of states. According to the overwhelming view in international law recognition has basically only declaratory but no constitutive effect. As a result recognition by another state does not alter the constitutional conformity or unconstitutionality of a change of government, which is to be judged solely under national law. That mere recognition does not confer legitimacy on the new government. ... [19,p.4]

In early March the Maduro administration declared the German diplomat Daniel Kriener to be an unwanted person and ordered him to leave Venezuela immediately. According to the Maduro administration Kriener has interfered in Venezuelan internal affairs. At least here it should be clear how unpopular the German government made itself in Venezuela. That was after the release of Six. [20] [21] [22] [23]

The Detention

Meanwhile the case of Billy Six becomes a dispute between several parties in Germany. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) has twice rejected allegations that the federal government is inactive in the case of Billy Six at the beginning of February and the beginning of March 2019. And the answer of Foreign Minister Maas (SPD) to an inquiry of the MP Jürgen Braun (AfD) is indeed striking. Maas claimed that an ambassador's detention visit had already been made on January 9, 2018 although Six was arrested on November 17, 2018. [24] [25]

Am 9.1. des letzten Jahres fand bereits ein erster Haftbesuch des Botschafters statt.

At 9.1. Last year the ambassador's first detention visit took place.
Foreign Minister Maas (SPD) [24]

The parents also accuse the federal government of doing too little for the release of their son. According to her the AfD and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have accomplished the released while the German government has never actively called for the release of Billy Six. [26]

The German Federal Government has obviously made itself unpopular in Venezuela. And it is likely that Billy Six has made himself unpopular with the German government. Both of these things could be the reason why the government of Venezuela has dealt so decisively with Six. However it remains difficult to say whether the German government failed to free Six from imprisonment because of its policy towards Venezuela or whether it did not want to liberate him because of his past.

[1] Billy Six auf dem Weg nach Deutschland 2019-03-17
https://jungefreiheit.de/politik/ausland/2019/billy-six-auf-dem-weg-nach-deutschland/
[2] Lawyer: Venezuela Frees German Journalist 2019-03-16
https://www.voanews.com/a/lawyer-venezuela-frees-german-journalist/4833888.html
[3] Haft in Venezuela - Journalist Billy Six ist offenbar frei 2019-03-16
http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/billysix-101.html
[4] Upskilling to Upscale: Unleashing the Capacity of Civil Society to Counter Disinformation June 2018
https://www.pdf-archive.com/2019/03/22/untitled-pdf-document-1/untitled-pdf-document.pdf
[5] MH17: Source of the Separatists' Buk 2014-11-09
https://www.bellingcat.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Origin-of-the-Separatists-Buk-A-Bellingcat-Investigation1.pdf
[6] correctiv - Über Uns
https://correctiv.org/ueber-uns/
[7] FLUG MH17 - DIE SUCHE NACH DER WAHRHEIT 2015-01-09
https://mh17.correctiv.org/
[8] Bellingcat publishes photo of Buk 332 taken before MH17 tragedy 2017-06-05
https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/426269.html
[9] Foreign Ministry: MH17 investigation team ignored data gathered by Russia 2018-05-24
http://tass.com/politics/1006164
[10] Probe: Missile that downed MH17 came from Russia-based unit 2018-05-24
https://apnews.com/df74081e61374108bba11f39ed504fb9
[11] MH17 - Die Billy Six Story 2016-09-28
https://youtu.be/s_BGVyv_DZo
[12] A Visit to Correctiv! 2016-08-03
https://youtu.be/vh5jtev5fJ4
[13] 2018-05-31 LICHEN (DD, Addendum) - GEA 0006
https://www.pdf-archive.com/2019/03/22/ddredacted/ddredacted.pdf
[14] Así fue la rápida reacción de la seguridad de Maduro durante el atentado 2018-08-04
https://youtu.be/-xDapjigVAI
[15] Video soll Explosion der Bombendrohne zeigen 2018-08-07
https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/ausland/amerika/video-soll-explosion-der-bombendrohne-zeigen/story/14000832
[16] Bundespressekonferenz: Bundesregierung will Attentatsversuch gegen Maduro nicht verurteilen 2018-08-13
https://youtu.be/ctkOp3Gnwyk
[17] MACHTKAMPF IN VENEZUELA : Bundesregierung erwägt Anerkennung Guaidós als Präsidenten 2019-01-25
https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/venezuela-bundesregierung-erwaegt-anerkennung-guaidos-16007578.html
[18] VENEZUELA : Berlin erkennt Guaidó als Interimspräsidenten an 2019-02-04
https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/venezuela-berlin-erkennt-juan-guaido-als-interimspraesidenten-an-16023177.html
[19] Zur Anerkennung ausländischer Staatsoberhäupter 2019-02-07
https://www.bundestag.de/resource/blob/592554/87e4ecf283d8bf72635da91a34f72b09/WD-2-014-19-pdf-data.pdf
[20] Caracas - Venezuela weist deutschen Botschafter aus 2019-03-06
https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/caracas-venezuela-weist-deutschen-botschafter-aus/24073464.html
[21] Entscheidung Maduros - Venezuela weist deutschen Botschafter aus 2019-03-06
https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/venezuela-deutscher-botschafter-101.html
[22] Daniel Kriener - Venezuela weist deutschen Botschafter aus 2019-03-06
https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2019-03/daniel-kriener-deutscher-botschafter-venezuela-unerwuenschte-person
[23] Deutschland und die Venezuela-Krise - Botschafter-Karussell in Caracas 2019-03-14
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/venezuela-nicolas-maduro-juan-guaido-und-die-politik-der-bundesregierung-a-1257097.html
[24] Antwort im Bundestag - Fall Billy Six: Maas weist Untätigkeit zurück 2019-02-14
https://jungefreiheit.de/politik/deutschland/2019/fall-billy-six-maas-weist-untaetigkeit-zurueck/
[25] Fall Billy Six in Venezuela - Deutscher Journalist soll vor Zivilgericht 2019-03-01
http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/billy-six-venezuela-101.html
[26] Free Billy Six - is feeling thankful. 2019-03-16
https://www.facebook.com/1972142153081848/posts/2018503355112394?sfns=mo