In a historic verdict, the highest human rights court in Europe has held Russia responsible for shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, in which all 298 on board were killed. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) also handed down parallel judgments on Wednesday, holding Russia liable for systematic crimes committed in Ukraine—such as murder, torture, rape, and child kidnappings.
Court Finds Russia Shot Down MH17 with Buk Missile
The ECHR ruled that Russia was responsible for shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014, when a Russian-made Buk missile struck the Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur over separatist-held eastern Ukraine.
Delivering the judgment, ECHR President Mattias Guyomar said, The evidence indicated that the missile had been deliberately fired at flight MH17, probably in the false assumption that it had been a military plane.”
The court also condemned Moscow’s denial of liability, saying it was against international law and had exacerbated the misery of victims’ relatives.
“Moscow’s failure to investigate the case properly considerably worsened the suffering of the relatives and friends of the victims,” said the ruling.
In May 2024, the aviation agency of the UN also held Russia culpable for the MH17 tragedy.
ECHR Also Hands Down Verdict On Russian War Crimes in Ukraine
The court, in two distinct cases filed by the Netherlands and Ukraine, held Russia culpable for war crimes in its 2022 full-scale invasion. The verdict listed the violations by Russia, which included strikes at civilians, destruction of infrastructure, and the use of sexual violence as a war tool.
“Use of rape as a weapon of war was an act of utmost horror that constituted torture,” he said.
The 501-page judgment also pointed to Russia’s boycott of the trial, labeling it a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Reactions and Impacts
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the ruling, stating, “We will not obey it, we view it as being null and void.”
Ukraine welcomed the ruling as a moral triumph. Historic and unparalleled,” Kyiv stated, terming the ruling an “irrefutable victory” for Ukraine.
Although the ECHR expelled Russia in 2022, it still hears cases filed before the country’s departure. The court will decide on financial compensation later, although effective enforcement seems improbable.
