Australia and the Netherlands launched a joint lawsuit against the Russian Federation for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH-17 in eastern Ukraine in 2014, International media reports on Monday. All 298 passengers and crew members died after the attack.
A Boeing 777 was shot down on July 17, 2014 by the Buk Telar surface-to-air missile system that Australia claims is owned and operated by Russian forces. A total of 196 Dutch nationals and 38 Australians were killed.
The Australian and Dutch governments said in separate statements that they had taken action at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) after Russia unilaterally withdrew from negotiations on the issue last October. Australia and the Netherlands have officially held Russia responsible for shooting down the MH-17 since October 2018.
We cannot and will not allow 298 people to die, including 196 Dutch, unanswered. The current events in Ukraine underline the vital importance of this.”Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra commented. “The government will continue to do everything in its power to call on Russia to take responsibility for shooting down the MH-17 and uphold the international legal system.”.
According to the Australian government, the Russian military has moved its surface-to-air missile system to a camp in eastern Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed separatists. Shortly after the MH-17 was shot down, the missile system was returned to Russian control.
“The Russian Federation’s refusal to take responsibility for its role in the downing of MH17 is unacceptable and the Australian government has always said it will not rule out any legal options in the pursuit of justice.”Morrison said.
He concluded that “Russia’s unprovoked and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and its escalation of aggression underscore the need to continue permanent efforts to hold Russia accountable for its flagrant violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, including threats to Ukraine’s sovereignty and airspace.” .
Most airlines have avoided flying over eastern Ukraine since 2014, and recently, flights through Ukraine were banned due to the invasion of the country under President Vladimir Putin.
