Europe’s top human rights court has ruled that Russia was responsible for shooting down the Malaysian Airlines plane in Ukraine 11 years ago.
The Boeing 777 (MH17) flight, traveling from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014.
All 298 passengers and crew on board the plane died. The victims were citizens of 17 countries, including 198 from the Netherlands, 43 Malaysians, 38 Australians, and 10 British.
After Russia’s annexation of Crimea in February 2014, separatist insurgency was ongoing in eastern Ukraine. Using a Russian-made Buk missile, the plane was shot down in territory controlled by Russia-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine.
On Wednesday, in a case brought by the Netherlands and Ukraine, the European Court of Human Rights ruled Russia responsible.
The court determined that the Russian military was “clearly involved in illegal conduct.”
Based on the evidence presented, the court stated that the missile was deliberately fired at the plane, likely under the mistaken belief that the aircraft was a military target.
“The court did not need to make a precise determination of who fired the missile because Russia is responsible for the actions of the Russian armed forces and armed separatists,” the court said in a statement.
“The court found that Russia did not take any measures to properly identify military targets. This was a violation of the principles of distinction and precaution,” the court stated.
Earlier, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations body, had already determined that Russia was responsible for shooting down the plane. However, Russia has not faced any punishment for the incident so far.
The European court’s ruling on Wednesday is largely symbolic. Russia is expected to ignore this verdict as well. Ukraine, meanwhile, has called the decision historic and unprecedented, describing it as a victory for a country currently at war with Russia.
In conclusion, the European Court of Human Rights has formally held Russia accountable for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, marking a significant legal acknowledgment of Russia’s responsibility in the tragic incident. Despite previous international findings and this latest ruling, Russia has yet to face concrete consequences. While the verdict may be largely symbolic, it represents an important moment of justice for the victims and their families, and a powerful statement by Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.
