Over 11 years after the tragedy, an aviation commission has declared that Russia was responsible for downing Malaysian Airlines aircraft MH17 over Ukraine.
Russia was blamed by the United Nations Aviation Council on Monday for the downing that claimed the lives of all 298 passengers and crew, including 196 Dutch nationals and 38 Australian citizens or residents.
According to both nations, the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Council will decide what kind of compensation is necessary in the upcoming weeks.
As pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces engaged in fierce combat, Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, as it was leaving Amsterdam for Kuala Lumpur.
Two Russian men and a Ukrainian guy were found guilty of murder in absentia by Dutch authorities in November 2022 for their involvement in the attack.
Moscow declared it will not extradite its citizens and referred to the decision as “scandalous.”
A request for comment was not immediately answered by the Montreal-based ICAO. Australia and the Netherlands initiated the case in 2022.
In a statement, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said, “The decision is an important step towards establishing the truth and achieving justice and accountability for all victims of Flight MH17, and their families and loved ones.”
“This decision also sends a clear message to the international community: states cannot violate international law with impunity.”
He noted that the Netherlands and Australia want the ICAO Council to mandate that Russia engage in restitution talks.
According to Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong, her country applauded the ruling and asked the ICAO to act quickly to provide solutions.
“We call upon Russia to finally face up to its responsibility for this horrific act of violence and make reparations for its egregious conduct, as required under international law,” Wong said in a statement.
Despite having no regulatory authority, the ICAO has moral influence and establishes international aviation norms that are widely embraced by its 193 member nations.
The Australian government imposed sanctions on three men in 2023 for their roles in the downing of Malaysia Airlines aircraft MH17.
Both Ukrainian citizen Leonid Kharchenko and Russian Sergey Dubinskiy, who were both convicted guilty and given life sentences in prison, are the targets of the sanctions.
Sergey Muchkaev, a Russian native and colonel in the Russian Armed Forces, has also been sanctioned by Australia.
The 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, which provided the Buk-TELAR missile system that brought down MH17, was commanded by Muchkaev in July 2014.
In 2014, Australia imposed sanctions on Igor Girkin, another convicted criminal, for aiding separatist efforts in eastern Ukraine.
“As either separatist leaders within the so-called ‘People’s Republic of Donetsk’ at the time of the downing of Flight MH17, or a member of the Russian Armed Forces, the three people sanctioned actively supported actions and policies that threatened the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.
“These sanctions demonstrate the Australian government’s ongoing commitment to hold to account those responsible for the downing of flight MH17.”
‘Truth, justice and accountability’ for the victims is what Australia is dedicated to, and it will pursue all options, she added.
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