The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has officially declared that the Russian Federation is responsible for the tragedy of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was shot down over Ukrainian airspace in 2014.
The ICAO Council, which is affiliated with the United Nations and based in Montreal, Canada, ruled that the complaints filed by Australia and the Netherlands were based on both legal and substantive grounds.
A written statement from the organisation included the following:
“The Russian Federation violated its obligations under international air law during the destruction of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014.”
With this decision, ICAO has, for the first time, officially held a country responsible in the MH17 case—an incident it had previously avoided attributing direct political accountability for.
What Happened?
On 17 July 2014, a Boeing 777 passenger aircraft travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down over eastern Ukraine by a Russian-made BUK surface-to-air missile, in an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 298 passengers and crew on board were killed.
Among those who lost their lives were 196 Dutch, 43 Malaysian, and 38 Australian citizens. The tragedy caused widespread international outrage and triggered a years-long chain of investigations and legal proceedings.
Moscow Denies the Allegations
In 2022, a court in the Netherlands sentenced three individuals, including two Russian nationals, to life imprisonment in absentia. However, Russia continues to reject the allegations and refuses to hand over the suspects.
ICAO’s decision is seen as a precedent in terms of international aviation law and state accountability. Experts suggest that it could introduce a new dimension to discussions of political responsibility in international legal processes.
