Moscow ‘responsible’ for MH17 crash, human rights violations in Ukraine

The European Court docket of Human Rights (ECHR) has dealt Russia a double whammy! One for ordering the downing of Malaysia Airways Flight MH17 in 2014 and one other for violating human rights legal guidelines throughout its battle with Ukraine.

France 24 reported that it’s the first time that a world courtroom finds Moscow accountable for the MH17 crash that killed 298 passengers and human rights violations in Ukraine, following its full-scale invasion three years in the past.

The European Court docket of Human Rights in Strasbourg is ruling on 4 instances introduced by Ukraine and the Netherlands towards Russia. They embody a broad vary of human rights violations prices because the begin of the Ukraine-Russia battle, in the course of the full-scale invasion because the begin of the battle, together with the downing of Malaysia Airways Flight 17 and the kidnapping of Ukrainian youngsters.

A ‘largely symbolic’ resolution

“In not one of the conflicts beforehand earlier than [the Court had] there been such close to common condemnation of the ‘flagrant’ disregard by the respondent State for the foundations of the worldwide authorized order established after the Second World Struggle,” stated the Strasbourg-based courtroom in its judgment.

Any resolution by the ECHR will likely be largely symbolic, as its rulings are usually not enforceable in apply. Russia was a member of the courtroom however was expelled in 2022, following its invasion of Ukraine. Nevertheless, the courtroom can nonetheless deal with instances towards Russia relationship again to earlier than its expulsion, and, legally, the nation stays obligated to take part within the proceedings.

Nevertheless, households of the victims of the MH17 catastrophe see the courtroom’s resolution as an necessary milestone of their 11-year struggle for justice.

“It’s an actual step in understanding who was accountable,” Thomas Schansman, who misplaced his 18-year-old son Quinn within the tragedy, instructed The Related Press. “Russia by no means took any alternative to inform the reality.”

MH17 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014, when it was struck by a surface-to-air missile over japanese Ukraine, in the course of the battle between pro-Russia rebels and Ukrainian forces within the area. All 298 passengers on board have been killed, amongst them 196 Dutch residents.

Russian officers deny, deny, deny

In 2018, a Dutch courtroom confirmed a earlier joint worldwide investigation led by specialists from the Netherlands, which had concluded that the airliner was shot down by a surface-to-air missile launched from pro-Russian separatist-controlled territory in Jap Ukraine.

Russian authorities have repeatedly denied any involvement within the assault and stated they’d ignore the decision.

Requested in regards to the judgment earlier than the rulings have been learn, Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, stated: “We received’t abide by it, we contemplate it void,” in accordance to the Guardian.

Azerbaijani aircraft downing, too

Not too long ago, an Azerbaijani information website has launched explosive new materials, claiming the Russian navy authorised the 2024 missile strike on Azerbaijan Airways Flight 8243, a tragedy that left 38 individuals lifeless and 29 injured, as reported by todaysviralmedia lately.

Minval reported that it acquired an nameless message, accompanied by audio clips and technical knowledge, which traces the incident again to Captain Dmitry Sergeyevich Paladichuk—a Russian air-defence officer allegedly appearing beneath direct orders from Moscow’s Ministry of Defence. On December twenty sixth, 2024, Reuters had reported that 4 sources with information of the preliminary investigation had confirmed that Russian air defences have been accountable for downing the Azerbaijan aircraft.

Two days after the incident, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an apology, calling the crash a “tragic incident,” however didn’t settle for duty for attacking the aeroplane, as reported additionally by todaysviralmedia.