The International Civil Aviation Organization’s aviation council has determined that the downing of a Malaysian airliner over Ukraine in 2014, which resulted in the loss of all 298 passengers and crew, was the fault of Russia. This has led to calls for reparations for the families of the victims.
MH17, an airliner traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was struck down by a Russian surface-to-air missile as it passed over eastern Ukraine, where fighting was ongoing between the Ukrainian military and pro-Russian separatists at the time.
The victims included 196 Dutch citizens and 38 Australian citizens or residents. The governments of Australia and the Netherlands stated that the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization will consider what form of reparation is suitable in the coming weeks.
Australian foreign minister Penny Wong welcomed this decision and urged the ICAO to expedite the determination of remedies. She stated that her government is urging Russia to acknowledge its responsibility and pay reparations for its “outrageous” actions, as required by international law.
The Netherlands and Australia want the ICAO Council to push Russia into negotiations over reparations, according to Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp. He stated that this decision moves towards establishing the truth, justice, and accountability for all Flight MH17 victims and their loved ones. It also sends a strong message to the international community: no state should be able to violate international law with impunity.
The ICAO, an organization headquartered in Montreal, is responsible for setting global aviation standards but lacks enforcement power. Australia and the Netherlands sought compensation and an apology but Russia, which has denied any involvement despite the International Criminal Court’s investigation, withdrew from negotiations in October 2020. The case with the ICAO was presented by Australia and the Netherlands in 2022.
In November 2022, Dutch judges found three men – two Russians and one Ukrainian – guilty in absentia of murder and their roles in the attack. The Moscow government labeled the ruling as “scandalous” and declared that it would not extradite its citizens.
In early 2023, international investigators said there were “strong indications” that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally approved of the decision to supply the missile that brought down flight MH17.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/13/flight-mh17-russia-responsible-un-aviation-council-icao-rules
