EU urges Russia to admit responsibility before MH17 tragedy anniversary 

This is said in a statement by EU High Representative Josep Borrell, the full text of which was published on the European Council's website. 

"On 17 July, we commemorate the ninth anniversary of the tragic downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, when 298 people of 17 different nationalities lost their lives. The European Union reiterates its full support for all efforts to establish the truth, achieving justice for the 298 victims of the downing of Flight MH17 and their next of kin and holding those responsible to account, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2166," the document says. 

As recalled in the statement, on June 23, 2023, the European Union added to the sanctions list two individuals who have been actively involved in Russia's military aggression against Ukraine since its beginning. In November 2022, these individuals were convicted for the downing of flight MH17 by the District Court in The Hague.

"The European Union emphasizes 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," the document says. 

The EU High Representative also reminded that the European Court of Human Rights became the first international court to confirm Russia's involvement in the downing of flight MH17 with its decision on jurisdiction in the case of Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia. This decision is final, while the judgment will be delivered later.

"Recalling its previous statements, the European Union takes note of all legal proceedings that are taking place in this regard and 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," the statement says. 

• As a reminder, the Malaysia Airlines Boeing-777 with 298 people on board, which was flying flight MH-17 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), was shot down in the temporarily occupied territory of Donbas on July 17, 2014. All people were killed: 283 passengers and 15 crew members.

• On November 17, 2022, a court in The Hague announced a verdict that the Russian-controlled "DPR" and Igor Girkin and his subordinates, Serhiy Dubinsky and Leonid Kharchenko, were responsible for the tragedy of Flight MH-17.

• On February 8, 2023, prosecutors found evidence that Putin had agreed to supply the DPR terrorists with the missile that shot down the plane.

• On March 18, it became known that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) would consider the submission of the Netherlands and Australia against Russia over the downing of Malaysian flight MH17.