Ukraine considers it inappropriate for ambassador to take part in Iran’s trial over downing of UIA plane
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine took note of the start of the hearings at the military court of Iran on the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight (PS 752), the first session of which is going to take place on 22 November 2021 in Tehran,” reads the statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
The Ministry expressed its gratitude for the invitation of the Ambassador of Ukraine to attend the first session of the hearings, noting that the requests for international legal assistance in criminal proceedings, sent by the Ukrainian side to the competent authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, have not been fully complied with yet. In addition, the requested documents and information have not been provided by the Iranian side.
“In this regard we consider the participation of the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Islamic Republic of Iran in a formal court hearing, where the indictment will be read, to be inappropriate,” the Ministry underscores.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine calls on Iran to comply with its obligations under international law and to provide requested information to the Ukrainian authorities.
“Our aim remains the same - the truth must be established, and the perpetrators must be brought to justice,” says the statement.
On January 8, 2020, the Ukraine International Airlines plane (Flight PS752) heading from Tehran to Kyiv crashed shortly after taking off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport. There were 176 people on board – nine crew members (all Ukrainians) and 167 passengers (citizens of Ukraine, Iran, Canada, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the UK). All of them died.
On January 11, Iran admitted that its military had accidentally shot down the Ukrainian passenger jet. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accepted full responsibility for the downing of the Ukrainian airliner.
On November 22, 2021, hearings over the downing began in the military court of Iran.
Photo credit: AA
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