Russia found liable for infringements in Ukraine, contributing to the downing of Flight MH17
In a series of damning judgments, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has held Russia responsible for widespread human rights violations in Ukraine, including the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) in 2014.
The court found that Russia exercised effective control over parts of eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, from at least May 11, 2014. This legal responsibility extends to a range of abuses, including murder, torture, sexual violence, and the abduction of Ukrainian children.
The ECHR's decisions mark the first time an international court has held Russia accountable for the downing of MH17. The aircraft was shot down using a Russian-made Buk missile fired from territory controlled by separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.
The court's rulings provide significant legal precedent for holding Russia accountable for its actions in Ukraine. Despite Russia's withdrawal from the Council of Europe in 2022, the ECHR retains jurisdiction over cases initiated before Russia's expulsion. However, the Russian government has stated that it will not comply with the ECHR's rulings, viewing them as "null and void."
The European Union has condemned Russia's actions, expressing grave concerns over human rights violations in Ukraine. The separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine, which began in 2014, killed about 14,000 people before Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
The ECHR will rule on financial compensation at a later date, but Russia's departure leaves little hope that damages will ever be collected. Russian forces breached international humanitarian law in Ukraine by carrying out attacks that killed and wounded thousands of civilians and created fear and terror.
Thomas Schansman, whose 18-year-old son was aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, stated that the judgment makes clear who caused the disaster. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has formally approved plans to set up a new international court to prosecute senior Russian officials for the invasion.
The United Nations' aviation agency found Russia responsible for the disaster of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in May. The United Nations' top court ordered Russia to stop military operations in Ukraine in 2022, but Russia has flouted the order by the International Court of Justice.
These judgments are separate from a criminal prosecution in the Netherlands in which two Russians and a Ukrainian rebel were convicted in absentia of multiple murders for their roles in the downing of Flight MH17. There are nearly 10,000 cases brought by individuals against the Kremlin currently pending in the ECHR.
The article was written by Quell for the Associated Press.
- In light of the ECHR's rulings, California's legal system could explore implementing similar measures to hold countries accountable for war-and-conflicts-related human rights violations.
- The general news outlets have been covering the ECHR's findings extensively, with many articles discussing the implications of the rulings on politics and international law.
- Activists in California are planning a rally to demand justice for the victims of the MH17 tragedy and to protest Russia's noncompliance with the ECHR's decisions.
- The crime-and-justice section of a local California newspaper reported on the increase in cases against the Kremlin in the ECHR, shedding light on the ongoing struggle for accountability in the face of Russia's resistance.
