MH17 anniversary: EU expects Russia to accept its responsibility

16.07.2023 18:50

Ukrinform

On the occasion of the ninth anniversary of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, which is marked on July 17, the European Union has called on Russia to accept its responsibility in this terrible crime and to cooperate with the international investigation.

EU High Representative Josep Borrell said this in a statement posted on the website of the European Council.

"On 17 July, we commemorate the ninth anniversary of the tragic downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, when 298 people of 17 different nationalities lost their lives. The European Union continues to feel deep sympathy for all those who lost their loved ones. The European Union reiterates its full support for all efforts to establish the truth, achieving justice for the 298 victims of the downing of Flight MH17 and their next of kin and holding those responsible to account, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2166," the document reads.

According to the statement, on June 23, 2023, the European Union listed two individuals who took an active part in Russia's military aggression against Ukraine from an early stage. In November 2022 these individuals were convicted for the downing of Flight MH17 by the Dutch District Court.

"The European Union emphasizes that the evidence presented by the Joint Investigative Team in the proceedings before the Dutch District Court and the European Court of Human Rights makes it clear the BUK installation used to bring down Flight MH17 belonged beyond doubt to the armed forces of the Russian Federation," the statement said.

Borrell recalled that in its admissibility ruling on January 25, 2023 in the case of Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia, the European Court on Human Rights was the first international court to confirm Russia's involvement in the downing of Flight MH17. The decision is final and will be followed by a judgment on the merits, at a later date.

"Recalling its previous statements, the European Union takes note of all legal proceedings that are taking place in this regard and expects Russia to accept its responsibility and to fully cooperate with efforts to establish truth, justice and accountability for the victims and their next of kin," the statement said.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over occupied area of Donetsk region on July 17, 2014. There were 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board. All of them died. Last November, the Hague District Court sentenced Russian citizen Sergey Dubinskiy and Ukrainian citizen Leonid Kharchenko to life imprisonment for their participation in the fatal Boeing 777 crash over Ukraine in 2014.