Media: NATO calls on Russia to take responsibility for the crash of Flight MH17
Ukrinform news agency reports that the NATO Parliamentary Assembly has released a draft resolution calling on the Kremlin to take responsibility for the crash of the Malaysian Boeing 777 Flight MH17.
“The Parliamentary Assembly reaffirms its strong support for the investigation of the crash of the MH17 plane in Ukraine, which is being conducted by the Netherlands, and calls on the Kremlin to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2166, to take responsibility and fully join the attempts to establish justice,” the document stated.
The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 flight MH17 was shot down on July 17, 2014 over separatist-held territory of the Donetsk region. All 298 people on board were killed. Passengers of the flight included citizens of 10 countries. Most of the victims (196 people) were citizens of the Netherlands.
The Joint Investigation Team (JIT)—which includes representatives from Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Ukraine—has carried out criminal investigation of the tragedy. The countries participating in the investigation have agreed not to create a separate tribunal and decided that those responsible would be brought before the Dutch court.
On May 24, 2018, the JIT presented additional evidence of Russia’s crucial role in the tragic air disaster. The JIT concluded that the Buk ground-to-air missile system that shot down the passenger airplane was in service of the 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade of the Russian Armed Forces stationed in Kursk.
On May 25, the Dutch government took steps to hold Russia accountable for the crash of flight MH17, a process which will be managed separately from prosecuting the perpetrators.
Australia stated it will seek payment of compensation from Russia to the families of the MH17 crash victims.
The President of Ukraine instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately submit proposals on joining the Netherlands-Australia-initiated case against Russia at the interstate level in connection with this air disaster.