Dutch Court: Government May Keep MH17 Cabinet Documents Secret

A Dutch court rules that the Dutch government does not have to disclose internal cabinet documents and ministerial meeting minutes from the days immediately following the MH17 crash in July 2014. Dutch broadcasters NOS, RTL Nieuws, and newspaper Volkskrant had sued under the Government Information Act (Wet open overheid, Woo) seeking access to cabinet-level discussions. The court finds that authorities gave 'due consideration to the principles and criteria' in maintaining confidentiality, ruling that 'very special circumstances' would be required to compel disclosure. The ruling is seen as a setback for media transparency advocates who sought insight into government decision-making in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.