MH17 air disaster: Russia found responsible for downing plane
Photo: Russia shot down flight MH17 (Getty Images)
The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has officially recognized Russia as responsible for the downing of flight MH17. The issue of compensation is expected to be addressed, according to the press service of the Dutch government.
As noted by the Dutch government, the ICAO Council's decision also states that Russia violated the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation by unlawfully using its weaponry against a passenger aircraft.
Thus, the ICAO Council confirmed the position of the Netherlands and Australia, which filed a case against Russia in 2022 over the downing of flight MH17.
In the coming weeks, the ICAO Council will consider how damages should be compensated. The Netherlands and Australia are already requesting that the Council obligate the Russian Federation to enter into negotiations with them on this matter and to oversee the process.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp emphasized that he is satisfied with the ICAO Council's decision. He stressed that the ruling is especially important for the relatives of the crash victims.
"The decision cannot take away their grief and suffering, but it is an important step toward establishing truth, justice, and accountability for all the victims of flight MH17 and their families. Moreover, this decision sends a clear message to the international community that states cannot violate international law with impunity," he added.
Russia shot down flight MH17
In July 2014, a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 passenger plane flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down over the temporarily occupied part of Ukraine's Donetsk region. All 298 people on board were killed.
An international investigation determined that the aircraft was downed by a Russian Buk surface-to-air missile system brought in from the territory of the Russian Federation. The system belonged to the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of the Russian army. After the missile was launched, the launcher was quickly returned to Russia.
Both the investigation and the Dutch court concluded that the missile was launched by pro-Russian militants with the involvement of Russian military personnel.
