In an historic ruling, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) held that Russia is liable for the shoot down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. This devastating collision occurred on July 17, 2014, while flying over eastern Ukraine. On Wednesday, we got an extraordinary decision. Most importantly, it stands firm against Russia’s violation of international law by targeting a civilian aircraft with military ordinance. The crash unfortunately killed all 298 people on board. Among them were 38 Australian citizens and residents, but the majority of passengers were Dutch nationals.
Russia has continually denied responsibility for the tragedy and continues to be at odds with the conclusions of multiple official inquiries. Those surface-to-air missiles were the same used in other attacks, and investigations found that the Russian military were responsible. These missiles Ukrainian separatists used to bring down the plane. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov proclaimed that Russia would not recognize or adhere to any court decisions regarding the case.
ECHR Findings and Implications
The ECHR’s judgment squarely addresses the MH17 incident. It draws the spotlight away from the larger picture regarding why Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine is such a travesty. The court’s findings indicate that Russia has engaged in indiscriminate military attacks, summary executions of civilians, torture including sexual violence, and unjustified displacement of individuals within Ukraine.
“One of the most important in the practice of interstate cases.” – Ukraine’s Justice Ministry
The court’s report underscores the severity of Russia’s actions, framing them as violations of human rights and international law. This ruling has far-reaching implications beyond the specific tragedy of the MH17 incident. It would change the way international institutions work to hold people accountable for war crimes in active conflicts.
Russia’s Response and Legislative Actions
In a follow-up to the ECHR’s ruling, Russian officials continued to express that non-acceptance. “We do not recognize them,” Peskov said, encapsulating a well-established trend of refusing to acknowledge outside criticism of Russian aggression. Legislative backdrop This official reaction aligns with the anti-LGBTQ measures taken by Russia’s parliament in 2023. They voted to remove the ECHR’s jurisdiction from within their borders.
This refusal to accept international rulings complicates diplomatic relations and raises questions about future accountability for actions taken during military engagements. International analysts have been glued to the clockwork-like unfolding of war in Ukraine. Now new evidence is emerging of these human rights violations, bringing even more scrutiny to the situation.
Seeking Justice for Victims
Internationally, countries like Australia and other European nations have for years blamed Russia for the destruction of MH17. The Dutch Foreign Minister, Caspar Veldkamp, commented on the ruling, stating, “Nothing can take away this suffering and grief, but I hope the verdict offers a sense of justice and recognition.” No one understands this truth more than the families of these crash victims. They have been working to hold their city accountable ever since the tragedy devastated their community.
