A United Nations council found Russia is responsible for the downing of flight MH17 more than a decade ago.
Western governments have responded this morning, “Those who violate international law will be held to account”.
Hear more from Wednesday’s headlines on The Briefing podcast:
The UN’s Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) yesterday ruled that Moscow brought down the Malaysia Airlines flight over Ukraine on July 17, 2014.
The ICAO lacks regulatory power but holds moral suasion and sets global aviation standards overwhelmingly adopted by its 193-member states.
All 298 passengers on board flight MH17 were killed, including 38 Australians.
The flight was headed to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam. It was shot down over eastern Ukraine as fighting raged with Russia.
Former PM Tony Abbott said at the time, “This is a grim day for our country, and it’s a grim day for our world. Malaysian Airlines MH17 has been shot down over the eastern Ukraine, it seems by Russian-backed rebels. As things stand, this looks less like an accident than a crime”.
In a statement this morning, the UK government says it serves as a “reminder of Russia’s reckless and dangerous behaviour” and its “callous disregard for civilian lives.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the ruling as a “historic moment in the pursuit of truth, justice and accountability,” and urged Russia to face up and make reparations.
Australia and the Netherlands brought this case to the ICAO back in 2022. Both governments are now eager to hear from the council about what, if any, reparations it will demand from Russia.
In November, 2022 Dutch judges convicted two Russian men and a Ukrainian man of murder for their role in the attack.
Moscow at the time labelled the conviction “scandalous,” saying it would not extradite its citizens.
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