News item | 09-07-2025 | 11:47 am
On July 9, 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (EHRM) ruled that Russia is responsible for downing flight MH17 and the death of all passengers, including 196 Dutch people. Russia is also responsible for the extra suffering it caused for the relatives, by continuing to deny any involvement and the compliance with the investigation into the lowering of flight MH17. The ruling is an important step towards justice.
In 2020, the Netherlands submitted the States Complaint at the ECtHR, about the responsibility of Russia for downing flight MH17 on 17 July 2014 above eastern Ukraine. All 298 passengers died, including 196 Dutch people.
The ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)
It’s the 2one Times in a short time that it has been established at an international level that Russia has violated international law by the downing of flight MH17. The ECtHR in favor of 4 human rights violations by Russia, laid down in the European Convention on Human Rights:
- Russia is responsible for downing flight MH17 and the death of all passengers (Article 2 – right to life, equipment).
- Russia has not done an adequate own research and did not cooperate sufficiently on requests for information from the Netherlands and the Joint Investigative Team (Article 2 – right to life, procedural).
- The lack of cooperation of Russia and continuing to deny any involvement in downing flight MH17 causes extra suffering for the relatives (Article 3 – prohibition of torture and inhumane treatment).
- Russia has not made any legal remedies available for the surviving relatives (Article 13 – right to an actual legal remedy).
Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp: ‘The ruling of the European Court of Human Rights is crystal clear: Russia is responsible for downing flight MH17 and the death of all occupants, including 196 Dutch people. What we knew and felt all the time has now been confirmed again. An important step towards justice.
Russia is also responsible for the extra suffering caused for the relatives due to denial and lack of cooperation. Nothing can remove this suffering and sorrow, but I hope that the pronunciation offers a sense of justice and recognition. “
Next steps
The procedure at the ECtHR has so far been aimed at determining human rights violations. Now that the violations have been established, the ECtHR can determine the consequences of those violations and determine compensation. In this follow -up procedure, the Netherlands will remain in close contact with the relatives about this possible compensation.