Australia initiates legal proceedings against Russia in ICAO over downed MH17 flight
Australia & Netherlands allege the Russian Federation is responsible under international law for downing of the flight; want the new legal action to deliver justice for families of the victims.
Total Views |
Melbourne, March 14: Australia and the Netherlands launched new legal action against Russia over 2014 downing of flight MH17, challenging Vladimir Putin in the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Attorney-General Michaelia Cash made the announcement.
The announcement came on the same day the federal government announced fresh sanctions on 33 Russian oligarchs, prominent businesspeople and their immediate family members over the invasion of Ukraine.
In October 2020, Russia withdrew from negotiations with Australia and the Netherlands regarding the MH17 tragedy. “The Russian Federation’s refusal to take responsibility for its role in the downing of flight MH17 is unacceptable and the Australian government has always said that it will not exclude any legal options in our pursuit of justice,” Morrison and Senator Payne said in a statement.
Australia and Netherlands will rely on what the two countries call “overwhelming evidence” that the flight was shot down by a Russian Buk-TELAR surface-to-air missile system, transported from Russia to an agricultural field in the east of Ukraine under the control of Russian-backed separatists.
Murder charges have been placed against three Russians and a Ukrainian after extensive work by an international investigative team. Australia blamed Russia for running a “disinformation campaign” over MH17 deaths, with govt ministers rejecting any evidence discrediting the investigation’s findings.
MH17 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was hit by a Russian-made surface-to-air missile fired from eastern Ukraine by separatists. Among the 298 people killed on the Boeing 777, were 38 Australians.
JUST IN:🚨 Australia initiates legal action against Russia over the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014
— OSINT Updates (@OsintUpdates) March 14, 2022
Australia and the Netherlands allege the Russian Federation is responsible under international law for the downing of the flight and want the new legal action to deliver justice for families of the victims.
The announcement came on the same day the federal government announced fresh sanctions on 33 Russian oligarchs, prominent businesspeople and their immediate family members over the invasion of Ukraine.
Also Read | WATCH: Royal Australian Navy undertakes cross deck operations with INS Shivalik in MILAN 2022
Australia is working with the US, Canada, the European Union, New Zealand, and the UK to put strong restrictive measures on key Russian individuals.
In October 2020, Russia withdrew from negotiations with Australia and the Netherlands regarding the MH17 tragedy. “The Russian Federation’s refusal to take responsibility for its role in the downing of flight MH17 is unacceptable and the Australian government has always said that it will not exclude any legal options in our pursuit of justice,” Morrison and Senator Payne said in a statement.
Australia and Netherlands will rely on what the two countries call “overwhelming evidence” that the flight was shot down by a Russian Buk-TELAR surface-to-air missile system, transported from Russia to an agricultural field in the east of Ukraine under the control of Russian-backed separatists.
They allege the missile system belonged to the Russian Federation’s 53rd Anti-Aircraft Military Brigade, and was accompanied by a trained Russian military crew and was returned to Russia shortly after the downing.
Murder charges have been placed against three Russians and a Ukrainian after extensive work by an international investigative team. Australia blamed Russia for running a “disinformation campaign” over MH17 deaths, with govt ministers rejecting any evidence discrediting the investigation’s findings.