Ninth anniversary of flight MH17’s crash: EU supports all efforts to establish truth and achieve justice

The European Union continues to feel deep sympathy for all those who lost their loved ones, says a statement issued by the Council of the European Union on the 9th anniversary of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, commemorated on 17 July.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a scheduled passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down on 17 July 2014 by Russian-controlled forces while flying over Russian-occupied territories in eastern Ukraine. 

The European Union reiterates its full support for all efforts to establish the truth, achieve justice for the 298 victims of the crash of flight MH17 and their next of kin and bring those responsible to justice, in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 2166.

On 23 June 2023, the European Union listed two individuals who took active part in Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine from an early stage. In November 2022, these individuals were convicted for the downing of Flight MH17 by the Dutch District Court.

“The European Union emphasises that the evidence presented by the Joint Investigative Team in the proceedings before the Dutch District Court and the European Court of Human Rights makes it clear the BUK installation used to bring down Flight MH17 belonged beyond doubt to the armed forces of the Russian Federation,” says the statement.

The EU also recalls that the European Court of Human Rights was the first international court to confirm Russia’s involvement in the shooting down of flight MH17. “The decision is final and will be followed by a judgement on the merits, at a later date,” the statement said.

The European Union also expects Russia to accept its responsibility and to fully cooperate with efforts to establish truth, justice and accountability for the victims and their next of kin.

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Press release