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Toronto Sun
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Canada welcomes UN body's decision holding Russia responsible for MH17 tragedy
Published May 14, 2025 • 1 minute read A pro-Russian rebel touches the MH17 wreckage at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, near the village of Hrabove, eastern Ukraine, on July 22, 2014. Photo by Vadim Ghirda, File / AP OTTAWA — The Canadian government is welcoming a recent decision by the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization to hold Russia responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The plane was shot down on July 17, 2014, over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board, including one Canadian. Global Affairs Canada says the UN body has found Russia breached an obligation not to use weapons against a civil aircraft in flight under the Convention on International Civil Aviation, also known as the Chicago Convention. A Dutch-led investigation concluded in 2016 that the Amsterdam-to-Kuala Lumpur airliner was shot down from territory held by separatist rebels using a missile system delivered from Russia. Moscow has denied any involvement in the tragedy and is rejecting the council's findings. Global Affairs says the council will in the coming weeks consider what form of reparation is in order. 'We commend the council for fulfilling its responsibility to uphold the rule of law in civil aviation and for reaffirming that violations of it will not go unanswered,' the department said in a statement. 'Our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of all those who lost their lives aboard Flight MH17. Canada continues to support efforts to ensure that justice is served and to reinforce international mechanisms that protect civilian lives.' — With files from The Associated Press Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto & GTA Relationships Olympics Columnists
Malaysia Sun
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
Moscow reacts to UN aviation agency's MH17 vote
The investigation into the shootdown of the passenger airliner in Ukrainian airspace in 2014 was biased against Russia, the Foreign Ministry said Russia has rejected the UN civilian aviation agency's claims that it was responsible for the 2014 downing of the Malaysia Airlines flight over eastern Ukraine. Moscow insisted that the Dutch-led investigation into the incident was politically motivated and relied on "questionable" evidence submitted by Kiev. "Moscow's principal position remains that Russia was not involved in the crash of MH17, and that all statements to the contrary by Australia and the Netherlands are false," the Foreign Ministry said on its website on Tuesday. The statement came after the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) voted that Russia failed to uphold its obligation to "refrain from resorting to the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight." Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) was shot down in eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 people on board, most of whom were Dutch, Malaysian, and Australian nationals. The incident occurred as Ukrainian troops were attempting to retake the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, which voted to secede following the Western-backed coup in Kiev. The two entities later voted to become part of Russia in September 2022. In 2015, the investigation - conducted by the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, and Ukraine - concluded that the plane was shot down by a Soviet-era Buk surface-to-air missile system delivered by Russia to the Donbass militias. Moscow denied providing heavy weapons to local forces and argued that the aircraft was hit by a version of the missile used by Ukrainian, not Russian, troops. It also criticized its exclusion from the investigation. The Foreign Ministry condemned the ICAO Council's decision as politically motivated, alleging "multiple procedural violations." It said the ICAO ignored "ample and convincing factual and legal evidence" submitted by Russia to demonstrate its non-involvement in the shootdown. "The conclusions of the Dutch investigation were based on the testimonies of anonymous witnesses - whose identities were classified - as well as on questionable information and materials submitted by a biased party: the Security Service of Ukraine," the statement read. The Foreign Ministry added that Ukraine should ultimately be blamed for the tragedy because Kiev "launched a military operation in Donbass under the false pretense of combating terrorism."
Malaysia Sun
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
Moscow reacts to UN aviation agencys MH17 vote
The investigation into the shootdown of the passenger airliner in Ukrainian airspace in 2014 was biased against Russia, the Foreign Ministry said Russia has rejected the UN civilian aviation agency's claims that it was responsible for the 2014 downing of the Malaysia Airlines flight over eastern Ukraine. Moscow insisted that the Dutch-led investigation into the incident was politically motivated and relied on "questionable" evidence submitted by Kiev. "Moscow's principal position remains that Russia was not involved in the crash of MH17, and that all statements to the contrary by Australia and the Netherlands are false," the Foreign Ministry said on its website on Tuesday. The statement came after the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) voted that Russia failed to uphold its obligation to "refrain from resorting to the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight." Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) was shot down in eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 people on board, most of whom were Dutch, Malaysian, and Australian nationals. The incident occurred as Ukrainian troops were attempting to retake the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, which voted to secede following the Western-backed coup in Kiev. The two entities later voted to become part of Russia in September 2022. In 2015, the investigation - conducted by the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, and Ukraine - concluded that the plane was shot down by a Soviet-era Buk surface-to-air missile system delivered by Russia to the Donbass militias. Moscow denied providing heavy weapons to local forces and argued that the aircraft was hit by a version of the missile used by Ukrainian, not Russian, troops. It also criticized its exclusion from the investigation. The Foreign Ministry condemned the ICAO Council's decision as politically motivated, alleging "multiple procedural violations." It said the ICAO ignored "ample and convincing factual and legal evidence" submitted by Russia to demonstrate its non-involvement in the shootdown. "The conclusions of the Dutch investigation were based on the testimonies of anonymous witnesses - whose identities were classified - as well as on questionable information and materials submitted by a biased party: the Security Service of Ukraine," the statement read. The Foreign Ministry added that Ukraine should ultimately be blamed for the tragedy because Kiev "launched a military operation in Donbass under the false pretense of combating terrorism." Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that, because Russia was not part of the investigation, it "does not accept biased conclusions." (
Malaysia Sun
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
Global aviation council finds Russia responsible for downing MH17 over Ukraine in 2014
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization on Tuesday found Russia responsible for shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine with the loss of 298 lives more than a decade ago, in a ruling that raises the prospect of victims' families being paid compensation. Russia has rejected the findings. A Dutch-led international investigation concluded in 2016 that the Amsterdam-to-Kuala Lumpur airliner was shot down on July 17, 2014, from Ukrainian territory held by separatist rebels using a Buk missile system delivered from Russia. Moscow denies any involvement in the MH17 tragedy. The Netherlands and Australian governments brought the case against Moscow before the Montreal-based global aviation agency in 2022, and on Tuesday welcomed the verdict. Council finds that Russia violated the Chicago Convention The council found that Russia had violated the Convention on International Civil Aviation, known as the Chicago Convention, which requires that states "refrain from resorting to the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight." It's the first time that the council, which represents 193 member states, has decided a dispute between governments. Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said that the council would consider the question of reparations within weeks. "In that context, the Netherlands and Australia are requesting that the ICAO Council order the Russian Federation to enter into negotiations with the Netherlands and Australia, and that the Council facilitate this process," Veldkamp said in a statement. "The latter is important in order to ensure that the negotiations are conducted in good faith and according to specific timelines, and that they will yield actual results," he added. Dutch father Thomas Schansman, who lost his son in the disaster, said the ICAO decision makes it clear Russia was responsible for the tragedy and could lead to compensation, but that he and other relatives mostly want the country to acknowledge its culpability. "Money cannot buy anything back," he told The Associated Press. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged the council to move swiftly to "determine remedies." "We call on Russia to finally face up to its responsibility for its horrific act of violence and make reparations for its egregious conduct, as required under international law," Wong said in a statement. Russia rejects the council's findings Speaking to journalists Tuesday, the Kremlin rejected the investigation's results as "biased." "Russia did not take part in the investigation of this incident and therefore we will not accept these biased conclusions," said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Australian National University international law expert Don Rothwell said that the council had yet to publish the reasons for its decisions. "One of the consequences for this process will be that the council will probably make some recommendations that Russia pay what are called reparations, which is an international term for damages, as a result of its violation of international law," Rothwell said. "So we have to wait and see exactly what the council finds on that particular point," Rothwell added. __ By ROD McGUIRK Associated Press Source: Courthouse News Service
13-05-2025
- Politics
Global aviation council finds Russia responsible for downing MH17 over Ukraine in 2014
MELBOURNE, Australia -- The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization on Tuesday found Russia responsible for shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine with the loss of 298 lives more than a decade ago, in a ruling that raises the prospect of victims' families being paid compensation. Russia has rejected the findings. A Dutch-led international investigation concluded in 2016 that the Amsterdam-to-Kuala Lumpur airliner was shot down on July 17, 2014, from Ukrainian territory held by separatist rebels using a Buk missile system delivered from Russia. Moscow denies any involvement in the MH17 tragedy. The Netherlands and Australian governments brought the case against Moscow before the Montreal-based global aviation agency in 2022, and on Tuesday welcomed the verdict. The International Court of Justice wasn't an option, because Russia doesn't recognize The Hague, Netherlands-based court's jurisdiction. The council found that Russia had violated the Convention on International Civil Aviation, known as the Chicago Convention, which requires that states 'refrain from resorting to the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight.' It's the first time that the council, which represents 193 member states, has decided a dispute between governments. Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said that the council would consider the question of reparations within weeks. 'In that context, the Netherlands and Australia are requesting that the ICAO Council order the Russian Federation to enter into negotiations with the Netherlands and Australia, and that the Council facilitate this process,' Veldkamp said in a statement. 'The latter is important in order to ensure that the negotiations are conducted in good faith and according to specific timelines, and that they will yield actual results,' he added. Dutch father Thomas Schansman, who lost his son in the disaster, said the ICAO decision makes it clear Russia was responsible for the tragedy and could lead to compensation, but that he and other relatives mostly want the country to acknowledge its culpability. 'Money cannot buy anything back,' he told AP. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged the council to move swiftly to 'determine remedies.' 'We call on Russia to finally face up to its responsibility for its horrific act of violence and make reparations for its egregious conduct, as required under international law,' Wong said in a statement. Speaking to journalists Tuesday, the Kremlin rejected the investigation's results as 'biased.' 'Russia did not take part in the investigation of this incident and therefore we will not accept these biased conclusions,' said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Australian National University international law expert Don Rothwell said that the council had yet to publish the reasons for its decisions. 'One of the consequences for this process will be that the council will probably make some recommendations that Russia pay what are called reparations, which is an international term for damages, as a result of its violation of international law,' Rothwell said. 'So we have to wait and see exactly what the council finds on that particular point,' Rothwell added.
