Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, has reacted angrily to opposition politicians accusing the government of secrecy in the wake of the downed MH17.

The Malaysia Airlines flight was shot down in eastern Ukraine on 17 July 2014, during conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists. All 298 people on board died, and the Netherlands is heading the investigation into those responsible. On Wednesday, the lower house of parliament will debate a final report from the Dutch Safety Board.

But late Tuesday, according to the broadcaster NOS, Dutch MPs accused Rutte of a lack of openness and Louis Bontes asked: ‘How does the prime minister interpret the fact that survivors have founded a working group to see if they can take the lid off the cover-up?’

Rutte responded irately: ‘The idea that due to trade relations with Russia or cosy relations with Ukraine, we want to keep things secret, that we are busy with a cover-up, is total nonsense.’

The Dutch prime minister asked for patience, saying tracking down the perpetrators will take many years.