News item | 12-05-2025 | 17:05
The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO Council) ruled on Monday in Montreal that the Russian Federation is responsible for downing flight MH17 and thus violated the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. The ICAO Council took this decision in the case that the Netherlands and Australia brought against the Russian Federation in 2022 because of the downing of flight MH17 on July 17, 2014. The Netherlands and Australia were upheld with this decision.
Foreign Minister Veldkamp: “I am pleased with the decision of the ICAO council, in the first place for the relatives of the victims of flight MH17. The decision cannot take away their grief and suffering, but it is an important step in the direction of truth finding, justice and account for all victims of the international in common. can violate international law. “
In the coming weeks, the ICAO council will consider the way in which legal recovery will have to take place. The Netherlands and Australia request the ICAO Council to impose the Russian Federation in that context to negotiate with the Netherlands and Australia and to guide this process. The latter to ensure that the negotiations are being conducted in good faith, according to established timelines and will actually lead to results.
There are 193 countries affiliated with ICAO, a specialized organization of the UN. Based on the Chicago Convention, these states are not allowed to use weapons against civil aviation during the flight. The ICAO council may judge whether countries have violated the Chicago Convention.
The ruling was made on Monday through a vote by members of the ICAO council. The vast majority of councilors supported the position of the Netherlands and Australia.