ICAO Agrees To Hear MH17 Case Netherlands, Australia Filed Against Russia - Minister
Faizan Hashmi Published March 18, 2023 | 05:50 PM
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th March, 2023) The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) decided to hear the case filed by the Netherlands and Australia against Russia over the crash of the MH17 plane in Donbas in 2014, Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said on Saturday.
In March 2022, the Dutch cabinet said that the two countries had filed a joint complaint against Russia with ICAO in the case of the MH17 plane crash.
"Today, the International Civil Aviation Organization has decided to hear the case of the Netherlands and Australia against Russia for the downing of flight #MH17 ... This is an important step towards establishing the truth, justice and accountability," Hoekstra tweeted.
The foreign minister added that both the Netherlands and Australia would continue to make every effort to "find closure" for families of the victims.
In November, the Hague District Court found two Russian citizens, Igor Girkin and Sergei Dubinsky, and Ukrainian citizen Leonid Kharchenko guilty of shooting down the MH17 plane and sentenced them to life imprisonment in absentia.
They also have to pay 16 million Euros ($17.2 million) in damages to families of the victims. The fourth defendant, Russian national Oleg Pulatov, was acquitted of the charges. The Hague court did not directly link the use of the Buk air defense system that led to the plane crash with Moscow, but said that Russia controlled the region where the incident happened at the time.
The MH17 passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia crashed in the Donbas conflict zone on July 17, 2014. All 298 passengers, mostly Dutch citizens, and crew members on board were killed.
In 2016, the Dutch-led international Joint Investigation Team (JIT) concluded that the aircraft was shot by a Russian-made Buk missile that was brought to the Donbas area controlled by independence fighters from a military brigade stationed in the Russian city of Kursk. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the JIT allegations of Russia's links to the crash were groundless, adding that the investigation was biased and one-sided.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
UAF to ink MoU with Ethiopian universities
Scouts playing exemplary role in serving humanity: Dr Iqrar
Punjab Police cricket honored with shields, medals & CCI certificates
Bugti issues directives to operate circular road parking plaza
PML-N to become more strong under Nawaz Sharif: Rana Sanaullah
300 raids conducted on hideous of drug-dealers
IP rights crucial in achieving SDG : Jam Kamal
Commissioner urges effective action against electricity theft
PAK-EPA's clean lab boosts environmental analysis capabilities with advanced ICP ..
Romania court opens way for start of influencer Tate's trial
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) delegation visits WSSCA
13 outlets sealed for violating Hepatitis preventive SOPs
More Stories From World
-
Romania court opens way for start of influencer Tate's trial
16 minutes ago -
Kenya flood death toll since March climbs to 70
16 minutes ago -
At least 10 people killed in Brazil fire: officials
16 minutes ago -
Russia targets Ukraine railways as Western aid due to arrive
49 minutes ago -
Miner Anglo American rejects BHP's near $39-billion takeover bid
1 hour ago -
At least 10 people killed in Brazil fire: officials
58 minutes ago
-
Junta-led Burkina Faso suspends BBC, Voice of America for two weeks
58 minutes ago -
Saudi to host top Arab, EU diplomats for Gaza talks: officials
1 hour ago -
Kenya flood death toll since March climbs to 70: govt
56 minutes ago -
US Fed's favored inflation measure accelerates in March
2 hours ago -
Kenya flood death toll since March climbs to 70: govt
2 hours ago -
Russia striking Ukraine railways to 'paralyse' army cargo: Ukraine source
2 hours ago