Bloody Skies over Eastern Ukraine: ICAO Pins MH17 Disaster on Russia
UN Aviation Agency Holds Russia Accountable for MH17 Catastrophe - Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 Downed by Russia: UN Report Suggests Russian Involvement
Taking the world by storm, the casual and down-to-earth International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) slammed Russia with the buck for the devastating shootdown of the Malaysian Airlines passenger jet MH17 in Eastern Ukraine. The plane met its fate on July 17, 2014, as it was hurled from the sky by a merciless surface-to-air missile above the war-torn, pro-Russian rebel-controlled territory. The grim toll? A death count of 298, most of whom were Dutch and Australian citizens.
In the weeks to come, the governments of both countries will be examining the feasibility of appropriate reparations.
Cheers from the Netherlands and Australia
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp wasted no time in issuing a statement asserting the decision as an essential stride towards unearthing the truth, ensuring justice, and achieving accountability for all victims of flight MH17 and their kin. Veldkamp emphasized that the decision sends a clear and firm message to the international community that breaching international law is intolerable and will not go unpunished.
Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong echoed the sentiment, welcoming the decision and calling on the ICAO to progress swiftly. In her statement, she demanded that Russia accept responsibility for this appalling act and make amends in accordance with international law.
As has been Russia's standard modus operandi, they vehemently deny any involvement in the shootdown of the passenger jet.
Covert Criminals Convicted for MH17 Catastrophe
Bound for Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam, flight MH17 met a tragic fate when its altitude of 10,000 meters was shattered by a missile near the Ukrainian village of Grabovo. Finger-pointing ensued between Ukraine and the pro-Russian rebels, each accusing the other of the heinous act.
In November 2022, a court in the Netherlands delivered a verdict, finding two Russian men and one Ukrainian man guilty of murder for their role in the attack. In response, Moscow tossed the verdict aside, branding it as a fabrication and dismissing the hypothesis that Russia played any role in the disaster. Russia has claimed that it will not extradite its citizens.
- Moscow Masher
- Eastern Ukraine Superhighway
- Airplane Apocalypse
- ICAO Inquisition
Enrichment Insights:
- The crash inquest alleges that the Russian Federation violated the Convention on International Civil Aviation (the Chicago Convention) by utilizing weapons against a civil aircraft in flight. Specifically, Russia used a surface-to-air missile to bring down the aircraft.
- The claim receiving ICAO's approval was considered "well-founded in fact and law," effectively rendering Russia responsible for the failure to uphold its international obligations.
- Russia denies any involvement and calls the ruling illegitimate and biased. They have insisted on a new investigation free from political influence.
- The decision by ICAO is regarded as a watershed moment in assigning responsibility and accountability for the fatal disaster that took the lives of all 298 victims on board MH17. The verdict has been lauded by countries such as the Netherlands, Australia, and Canada, who see it as a crucial step towards justice for the victims.
- The ICAO's decision, based on the evidence presented, holds the Russian Federation accountable for the violation of the Chicago Convention, specifically the use of a surface-to-air missile that led to the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17.
- In response to the ICAO's findings, the Dutch and Australian foreign ministers welcome the decision, emphasizing its importance in ensuring justice, accountability, and the furthering of international law.
- Despite the ICAO's decision, Russia denies any involvement and dismisses the process as biased, asserting their desire for a new, politically uninfluenced investigation.
- The ICAO's decision marks a significant milestone in the quest for responsibility and accountability regarding the MH17 disaster, as it establishes a precedent for holding nations accountable for breaching international civil aviation laws.
