MH17 victims' families demand Russia's accountability in peace deal

These letters were sent to U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, copies of which have been obtained by European Pravda.

“In two letters to Trump and von der Leyen earlier this month, MH17 victims' families addressed a possible peace deal on Ukraine, stating that a lasting agreement is hard to achieve without Russia acknowledging responsibility for the downing of MH17,” the article states.

The outlet notes that the victims' families have long demanded Russia acknowledge its role, apologize, and conduct a public investigation into all those involved and the causes of the plane’s downing. The Dutch government has consistently supported these demands. Now, the families believe their demands should be part of any potential peace settlement.

"Without this, there can be no lasting peace with Russia," they say.

Copies of the letters were also sent to Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, parliamentary committees on foreign affairs and justice and security, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

Downing of flight MH17 in skies over eastern Ukraine

The Malaysia Airlines passenger Boeing-777 with 298 people on board, which was flying from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), was shot down over the temporarily occupied territory of Donbas on July 17, 2014. All people died in the crash: 283 passengers and 15 crew members. 

In May 2018, the Joint Investigation Team presented a report that concluded that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down by a Buk missile system of Russia's 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade. The International Investigation Team also showed a piece of the missile that shot down MH17.

The Dutch prosecutor's office has demanded life imprisonment for the four accused of downing flight MH17 - three Russians and one Ukrainian: Igor Girkin, Sergey Dubinsky, Oleg Pulatov and Leonid Kharchenko. The prosecution believes that the perpetrators should pay compensation to the families of the victims.

In June 2022, the trial over the downing of the MH17 aircraft over Donetsk region ended in the Netherlands. On July 16, the EU called for those responsible for the downing to be brought to justice.

On November 17, 2022, the court in The Hague announced the verdict: the plane was shot down in 2014 by Donetsk pro-Russian separatists. According to the tribunal, the Buk system was fired from the village of Pervomaiske, Donetsk region. At the time, the village was under the control of the "DPR." According to the verdict, Igor Girkin and his subordinates, Sergei Dubinsky and Leonid Kharchenko, are guilty of the crime. They are responsible for the deaths of 298 people. Oleg Pulatov, who was another suspect, was found not guilty.

On January 25, 2023, the European Court of Justice ruled that the Netherlands has the right to claim compensation from Russia for the downing of passenger flight MH17 in July 2014.

In February, prosecutors uncovered evidence suggesting that Russian leader Vladimir Putin was responsible for deciding to supply the Buk missile system to "DPR" militants to shoot down MH17. Following these findings, the Netherlands summoned the Russian ambassador and demanded explanations regarding the conclusions of the Joint Investigation Team on the downing of flight MH17 and Putin's involvement in the incident.

Instead, the Russian president awarded the honorary 'Guards' title the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, which was involved in the downing of the Malaysian passenger flight MH17.

Later, media reported that the Dutch authorities considered military intervention when Russian militants shot down the Malaysian Boeing-777 flight MH17 over Donbas in 2014.

On the eve of the tenth anniversary of the downing of Malaysian Boeing-777 flight MH17, the European Union has called on Russia to admit responsibility for the tragedy.