MH17 case: Netherlands and Australia succeed in taking case against Russia to ICAO

Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra tweeted about this.

"Today, the International Civil Aviation Organization has decided to hear the case of the Netherlands and Australia against Russia for the downing of flight MH17. The rejection of the Russian objections by ICAO is encouraging news for the loved ones of the victims," he wrote.

He also noted that this is an important step towards establishing truth, justice and accountability.

"Together with Australia, we will continue to do everything in our power to find closure for the loved ones of the 298 victims of flight MH17," he wrote.

Last March, the Netherlands and Australia announced that they had initiated a new process against Russia at the ICAO over the downing of Flight MH17. ICAO is asked to establish Russia's role in the MH17 tragedy. If Russia’s accountability is confirmed, this will pave the way for claims for compensation from Russia.

The Malaysia Airlines passenger Boeing-777 with 298 people on board, which was operating flight MH17 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), was shot down in the Russian-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", Igor Girkin and his subordinates, Serhiy Dubinsky and Leonid Kharchenko, were responsible for the MH17 tragedy.

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