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NDTV
6 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Russia Shot Down Flight MH17 Killing 298 People, Rules Top Europe Court
Strasbourg: Europe's top human rights court found that Russia "shot down" Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, killing all 283 passengers and 15 crew members. Judges at the European Court of Human Rights on Wednesday also delivered damning judgments against Russia in three other cases brought by Kyiv and the Netherlands accusing Moscow of atrocities in Ukraine dating back more than a decade. Malaysia Airlines' Boeing 777--from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur--was shot down on July 17, 2014, using a Russian-made Buk missile fired from territory in eastern Ukraine controlled by separatist rebels loyal to Moscow. Reading the judgment in a courtroom in Strasbourg, the court's president, Mattias Guyomar, said that the "evidence suggested that the missile had been intentionally fired at flight MH17, most likely in the mistaken belief that it had been a military aircraft." The judges found that Russia's refusal to acknowledge its involvement in the Flight MH17 disaster violated international law. It said that Moscow's failure to properly investigate the matter "significantly aggravated the suffering" of the relatives and friends of the dead. In May, the UN's aviation agency also found Russia responsible for the disaster. Other Ruling Against Russia The Court also found Russia guilty of murder, torture, rape, destruction of civilian infrastructure and kidnapping of Ukrainian children after Moscow's full-scale invasion of 2022. Guyomar said Russian forces breached international humanitarian law in Ukraine by carrying out attacks that "killed and wounded thousands of civilians and created fear and terror." The court also found the human rights abuses went beyond any military objective and that Russia used sexual violence as part of a strategy to break Ukrainian morale, the French judge said. "The use of rape as a weapon of war was an act of extreme atrocity that amounted to torture," Guyomar said. The 501-page judgment noted that Russia's refusal to participate in the proceedings also was a violation of the European Convention of Human Rights, the treaty that underpins the court. About The Court The ECHR is an important part of the Council of Europe, which is the continent's foremost human rights institution. The court's governing body expelled Moscow in 2022 in response to the all-out invasion. However, the court can still deal with cases against Russia dating from before its expulsion, and, legally, the country is still obliged to participate in the proceedings. The court will rule on financial compensation at a later date, but Russia's departure leaves little hope that damages will ever be collected. Russia And Ukraine's Reaction Asked about the judgment before the rulings were read, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "We won't abide by it, we consider it void." While the Kremlin said it would ignore the largely symbolic judgment, Ukraine hailed it as "historic and unprecedented," saying it was an "undeniable victory" for the embattled country.
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First Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
In a landmark ruling, court finds Russia guilty of shooting down flight MH17, killing 298 onboard
In a landmark ruling, the European Court of Human Rights found Russia guilty of shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2017, killing all 298 passengers and crew onboard read more Families of the victims of the MH17 disaster say they see the decision as an important milestone in their 11-year quest for justice. Reuters Europe's top human rights court delivered damning judgements against Russia on Wednesday, including the ruling that it was Moscow which shot down MH17, killing all passengers, including 38 Australians. The judges at the European Court of Human Rights were delivering rulings on four cases brought by Ukraine and the Netherlands. On Wednesday, the judges ruled that Russia was responsible for widespread violations of international law. Moscow was apprehended for shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, back in 2014, along with murder, torture, rape, destruction of civilian infrastructure and kidnapping of Ukrainian children after it full-scale invasion of 2022, The Guardian reported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The decision was read out in a packed courtroom in Strasbourg. The court's president, Mattias Guyomar, said that Russian forces engaged in 'manifestly unlawful' conduct in the July 2014 attack on the flight. 'The court agreed that the evidence suggested that the missile had been intentionally fired at flight MH17, most likely in the mistaken belief that it had been a military aircraft,' the court said in a statement. 'It was not necessary for the court to decide exactly who had fired the missile, since Russia was responsible for the acts of the Russian armed forces and the armed separatists." 'The court found that no measures had been taken by Russia to accurately identify military targets, in breach of the principles of distinction and precautions," Guyomar furthered. Russia reacts Meanwhile, the Kremlin has maintained that it would ignore what it described as a 'largely symbolic judgment'. Ukraine, on the other hand, lauded the court, calling the ruling 'historic and unprecedented.' Kyiv went on to call the verdict an 'undeniable victory' for the embattled country. The 501-page ruling noted that Russia's refusal to participate in the proceedings also was a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights, the treaty that underpins the court. When asked about the proceedings before the judgment was read, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the case altogether. 'We won't abide by it, we consider it void," he said at that time. Meanwhile, families of the victims of the devastating crash saw the judgment as an important milestone in their 11-year quest for justice. Thomas Schansman, whose 18-year-old son, Quinn, was aboard the jetliner, said the judgment made it clear who caused the disaster. Russia 'is responsible for killing my son', Schansman said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The tragic story of MH17 On July 17, 2017, a Boeing 777 aircraft was shot down by a Russian-made Buk missile fired from territory in eastern Ukraine controlled by separatist rebels loyal to Moscow. All 298 passengers and crew onboard lost their lives in the tragic incident. The victims of the crash came from 17 countries and included 198 Dutch nationals, 43 Malaysians, 38 Australians and 10 from the UK. In the Wednesday ruling, the judge found that Russia's refusal to acknowledge its involvement in the plane crash violated international law. The court also charged Russia for failing to properly investigate the disaster 'significantly aggravated the suffering' of the relatives and friends of the dead. 'Russia never took any opportunity to tell the truth,' Schansman said. In May this year, the UN's aviation agency also found Russia responsible for the crash. The UN body gave the decision after Australia and the Netherlands launched legal proceedings against Russia under Article 84 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. It is pertinent to note that the ECHR is an important part of the Council of Europe, the continent's foremost human rights institution. The court's governing body expelled Moscow in 2022, after it launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine. However, the court still has the authority to deal with cases against Russia dating from before its expulsion and, legally, the country is still obliged to participate in the proceedings. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The European court will now rule on financial compensation at a later date, but Russia's departure leaves little hope that damages will ever be collected. It is also important to note that the decisions in Strasbourg are separate from a criminal prosecution in the Netherlands in which two Russians and a Ukrainian rebel were convicted in absentia of multiple murders for their roles in the downing of Flight MH17.
India Today
7 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Russia used rape as weapon in Ukraine: European court lashes out at Putin's country
Europe's top human rights court ruled that Russia was responsible for widespread violations of international law in Ukraine, including the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014, marking the first time an international court has held Moscow accountable for human rights abuses related to the conflict at the European Court of Human Rights on Wednesday delivered decisions on four cases brought by Ukraine and the Netherlands against Russia since the start of the conflict in 2014. The allegations include murder, torture, rape, destroying civilian infrastructure, kidnapping Ukrainian children and shooting down the Malaysian Airlines passenger jet, Flight MH17, by Ukrainian separatists who side with the decisions before a packed courtroom in Strasbourg, Court President Mattias Guyomar said Russian forces breached international humanitarian law in Ukraine by carrying out attacks that "killed and wounded thousands of civilians and created fear and terror." The judges found the human rights abuses went beyond any military objective and Russia used sexual violence as part of a strategy to break Ukrainian morale, the French judge said."The use of rape as a weapon of war was an act of extreme atrocity that amounted to torture," Guyomar complaints were brought before the court's governing body expelled Moscow in 2022, following the full-scale decisions are largely symbolic since Moscow says it plans to ignore them."We won't abide by it, we consider it void," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a call with reporters of the victims of the MH17 disaster see the decision as an important milestone in their 11-year quest for justice."It's a real step in understanding who was really responsible," Thomas Schansman, who lost his 18-year-old son Quinn in the tragedy, told The Associated Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down on July 17, 2014, using a Russian-made Buk missile fired from territory in eastern Ukraine controlled by separatist rebels. All 298 passengers and crew were killed, including 196 Dutch May, the U.N.'s aviation agency found Russia responsible for the ECHR is an important part of the Council of Europe, which is the continent's foremost human rights institution. Russia was expelled from the council over Moscow's invasion and war in Ukraine. However, the court can still deal with cases against Russia dating from before its 2023, the judges sided with Ukraine and the Netherlands in a challenge over jurisdiction, finding there was sufficient evidence to show areas in eastern Ukraine controlled by separatist rebels were "under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation," including providing weapons, and giving political and economic rulings won't be the last from the EHCR dealing with the war. Kyiv has other cases pending against Russia and there are nearly 10,000 cases brought by individuals against the decisions in Strasbourg are separate from a criminal prosecution in the Netherlands in which two Russians and a Ukrainian rebel were convicted in absentia of multiple murders for their roles in the downing of Flight 2022, the United Nations' top court ordered Russia to stop military operations in Ukraine while a case is heard, a process that takes years. Russia has flouted the order by the International Court of month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy formally approved plans to set up a new international court to prosecute senior Russian officials for the full-scale invasion of who has also brought an individual case to the ECHR, has no plans to stop pursuing justice, more than a decade after his son's death. "The worst thing we could to is stop fighting," he told the AP. "MH17 is not a case that will disappear for Russia."- EndsTune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Russia#Ukraine
New York Post
7 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
European court finds Russia committed violations in Ukraine, behind Flight MH17 crash
Europe's top human rights court ruled that Russia was responsible for widespread violations of international law in Ukraine, including the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014, marking the first time an international court has held Moscow accountable for human rights abuses related to the conflict there. Judges at the European Court of Human Rights on Wednesday delivered decisions on four cases brought by Ukraine and the Netherlands against Russia since the start of the conflict in 2014. The allegations include murder, torture, rape, destroying civilian infrastructure, kidnapping Ukrainian children and shooting down the Malaysian Airlines passenger jet, Flight MH17, by Ukrainian separatists who side with Russia. Reading the decisions before a packed courtroom in Strasbourg, Court President Mattias Guyomar said Russian forces breached international humanitarian law in Ukraine by carrying out attacks that 'killed and wounded thousands of civilians and created fear and terror.' 7 President of the European Court of Human Rights Mattias Guyomar issued a judgment about alleged Russian violations in Ukraine since 2014 AP 7 Firefighters extinguish a fire after an attack by the Russians in the Kyiv region Ukrainian State Emergency Service/AFP via Getty Images The judges found the human rights abuses went beyond any military objective and Russia used sexual violence as part of a strategy to break Ukrainian morale, the French judge said. 'The use of rape as a weapon of war was an act of extreme atrocity that amounted to torture,' Guyomar said. 7 The Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down on July 17, 2014, leaving behind large wreckage AFP via Getty Images 7 Ukrainian emergency services attempted to extinguish the fire at a drone strike site in the Kyiv area STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock The complaints were brought before the court's governing body expelled Moscow in 2022, following the full-scale invasion. The decisions are largely symbolic since Moscow says it plans to ignore them. 'We won't abide by it, we consider it void,' Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a call with reporters Wednesday. Families of the victims of the MH17 disaster see the decision as an important milestone in their 11-year quest for justice. 7 Demonstrators outside the European Court of Human Rights before the landmark ruling AP 'It's a real step in understanding who was really responsible,' Thomas Schansman, who lost his 18-year-old son Quinn in the tragedy, told The Associated Press. The Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down on July 17, 2014, using a Russian-made Buk missile fired from territory in eastern Ukraine controlled by separatist rebels. All 298 passengers and crew were killed, including 196 Dutch citizens. In May, the U.N.'s aviation agency found Russia responsible for the disaster. 7 The European Court of Human Rights claimed that Russia has violated numerous international laws in Ukraine and was responsible for the MH17 flight in 2014 POOL/AFP via Getty Images The ECHR is an important part of the Council of Europe, which is the continent's foremost human rights institution. Russia was expelled from the council over Moscow's invasion and war in Ukraine. However, the court can still deal with cases against Russia dating from before its expulsion. In 2023, the judges sided with Ukraine and the Netherlands in a challenge over jurisdiction, finding there was sufficient evidence to show areas in eastern Ukraine controlled by separatist rebels were 'under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation,' including providing weapons, and giving political and economic support. Wednesday's rulings won't be the last from the EHCR dealing with the war. Kyiv has other cases pending against Russia and there are nearly 10,000 cases brought by individuals against the Kremlin. 7 People take shelter inside a metro station during an air raid alert amid Russia's attack in Kyiv, Ukraine REUTERS The decisions in Strasbourg are separate from a criminal prosecution in the Netherlands in which two Russians and a Ukrainian rebel were convicted in absentia of multiple murders for their roles in the downing of Flight MH17. In 2022, the United Nations' top court ordered Russia to stop military operations in Ukraine while a case is heard, a process that takes years. Russia has flouted the order by the International Court of Justice. Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy formally approved plans to set up a new international court to prosecute senior Russian officials for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Schansman, who has also brought an individual case to the ECHR, has no plans to stop pursuing justice, more than a decade after his son's death. 'The worst thing we could to is stop fighting,' he told the AP. 'MH17 is not a case that will disappear for Russia.'
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Russia was behind downing of MH17: EU rights court
Europe's top human rights court has ruled that Russia was responsible for widespread violations of international law in Ukraine, including the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014, marking the first time an international court has held Moscow accountable for human rights abuses related to the conflict there. Judges at the European Court of Human Rights on Wednesday delivered decisions on four cases brought by Ukraine and the Netherlands against Russia since the start of the conflict in 2014. The allegations include murder, torture, rape, destroying civilian infrastructure, kidnapping Ukrainian children and shooting down the Malaysian Airlines passenger jet, Flight MH17, by Ukrainian separatists who side with Russia. Reading the decisions before a packed courtroom in Strasbourg, Court President Mattias Guyomar said Russian forces breached international humanitarian law in Ukraine by carrying out attacks that "killed and wounded thousands of civilians and created fear and terror". The judges found the human rights abuses went beyond any military objective and Russia used sexual violence as part of a strategy to break Ukrainian morale, the French judge said. "The use of rape as a weapon of war was an act of extreme atrocity that amounted to torture," Guyomar said. The complaints were brought before the court's governing body expelled Moscow in 2022, following the full-scale invasion. The decisions are largely symbolic since Moscow says it plans to ignore them. "We won't abide by it, we consider it void," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a call with reporters. Families of the victims of the MH17 disaster see the decision as an important milestone in their 11-year quest for justice. The Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down on July 17, 2014, using a Russian-made Buk missile fired from territory in eastern Ukraine controlled by separatist rebels. All 298 passengers and crew were killed, including 196 Dutch citizens and 38 Australians. In May, the UN's aviation agency found Russia responsible for the disaster. The ECHR is an important part of the Council of Europe, which is the continent's foremost human rights institution. Russia was expelled from the council over Moscow's invasion and war in Ukraine. However, the court can still deal with cases against Russia dating from before its expulsion. In 2023, the judges sided with Ukraine and the Netherlands in a challenge over jurisdiction, finding there was sufficient evidence to show areas in eastern Ukraine controlled by separatist rebels were "under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation", including providing weapons, and giving political and economic support. Wednesday's rulings will not be the last from the EHCR dealing with the war. Kyiv has other cases pending against Russia and there are nearly 10,000 cases brought by individuals against the Kremlin. The decisions in Strasbourg are separate from a criminal prosecution in the Netherlands in which two Russians and a Ukrainian rebel were convicted in absentia of multiple murders for their roles in the downing of Flight MH17. In 2022, the United Nations' top court ordered Russia to stop military operations in Ukraine while a case is heard, a process that takes years. Russia has flouted the order by the International Court of Justice. In June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy formally approved plans to set up a new international court to prosecute senior Russian officials for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Europe's top human rights court has ruled that Russia was responsible for widespread violations of international law in Ukraine, including the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014, marking the first time an international court has held Moscow accountable for human rights abuses related to the conflict there. Judges at the European Court of Human Rights on Wednesday delivered decisions on four cases brought by Ukraine and the Netherlands against Russia since the start of the conflict in 2014. The allegations include murder, torture, rape, destroying civilian infrastructure, kidnapping Ukrainian children and shooting down the Malaysian Airlines passenger jet, Flight MH17, by Ukrainian separatists who side with Russia. Reading the decisions before a packed courtroom in Strasbourg, Court President Mattias Guyomar said Russian forces breached international humanitarian law in Ukraine by carrying out attacks that "killed and wounded thousands of civilians and created fear and terror". The judges found the human rights abuses went beyond any military objective and Russia used sexual violence as part of a strategy to break Ukrainian morale, the French judge said. "The use of rape as a weapon of war was an act of extreme atrocity that amounted to torture," Guyomar said. The complaints were brought before the court's governing body expelled Moscow in 2022, following the full-scale invasion. The decisions are largely symbolic since Moscow says it plans to ignore them. "We won't abide by it, we consider it void," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a call with reporters. Families of the victims of the MH17 disaster see the decision as an important milestone in their 11-year quest for justice. The Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down on July 17, 2014, using a Russian-made Buk missile fired from territory in eastern Ukraine controlled by separatist rebels. All 298 passengers and crew were killed, including 196 Dutch citizens and 38 Australians. In May, the UN's aviation agency found Russia responsible for the disaster. The ECHR is an important part of the Council of Europe, which is the continent's foremost human rights institution. Russia was expelled from the council over Moscow's invasion and war in Ukraine. However, the court can still deal with cases against Russia dating from before its expulsion. In 2023, the judges sided with Ukraine and the Netherlands in a challenge over jurisdiction, finding there was sufficient evidence to show areas in eastern Ukraine controlled by separatist rebels were "under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation", including providing weapons, and giving political and economic support. Wednesday's rulings will not be the last from the EHCR dealing with the war. Kyiv has other cases pending against Russia and there are nearly 10,000 cases brought by individuals against the Kremlin. The decisions in Strasbourg are separate from a criminal prosecution in the Netherlands in which two Russians and a Ukrainian rebel were convicted in absentia of multiple murders for their roles in the downing of Flight MH17. In 2022, the United Nations' top court ordered Russia to stop military operations in Ukraine while a case is heard, a process that takes years. Russia has flouted the order by the International Court of Justice. In June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy formally approved plans to set up a new international court to prosecute senior Russian officials for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Europe's top human rights court has ruled that Russia was responsible for widespread violations of international law in Ukraine, including the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014, marking the first time an international court has held Moscow accountable for human rights abuses related to the conflict there. Judges at the European Court of Human Rights on Wednesday delivered decisions on four cases brought by Ukraine and the Netherlands against Russia since the start of the conflict in 2014. The allegations include murder, torture, rape, destroying civilian infrastructure, kidnapping Ukrainian children and shooting down the Malaysian Airlines passenger jet, Flight MH17, by Ukrainian separatists who side with Russia. Reading the decisions before a packed courtroom in Strasbourg, Court President Mattias Guyomar said Russian forces breached international humanitarian law in Ukraine by carrying out attacks that "killed and wounded thousands of civilians and created fear and terror". The judges found the human rights abuses went beyond any military objective and Russia used sexual violence as part of a strategy to break Ukrainian morale, the French judge said. "The use of rape as a weapon of war was an act of extreme atrocity that amounted to torture," Guyomar said. The complaints were brought before the court's governing body expelled Moscow in 2022, following the full-scale invasion. The decisions are largely symbolic since Moscow says it plans to ignore them. "We won't abide by it, we consider it void," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a call with reporters. Families of the victims of the MH17 disaster see the decision as an important milestone in their 11-year quest for justice. The Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down on July 17, 2014, using a Russian-made Buk missile fired from territory in eastern Ukraine controlled by separatist rebels. All 298 passengers and crew were killed, including 196 Dutch citizens and 38 Australians. In May, the UN's aviation agency found Russia responsible for the disaster. The ECHR is an important part of the Council of Europe, which is the continent's foremost human rights institution. Russia was expelled from the council over Moscow's invasion and war in Ukraine. However, the court can still deal with cases against Russia dating from before its expulsion. In 2023, the judges sided with Ukraine and the Netherlands in a challenge over jurisdiction, finding there was sufficient evidence to show areas in eastern Ukraine controlled by separatist rebels were "under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation", including providing weapons, and giving political and economic support. Wednesday's rulings will not be the last from the EHCR dealing with the war. Kyiv has other cases pending against Russia and there are nearly 10,000 cases brought by individuals against the Kremlin. The decisions in Strasbourg are separate from a criminal prosecution in the Netherlands in which two Russians and a Ukrainian rebel were convicted in absentia of multiple murders for their roles in the downing of Flight MH17. In 2022, the United Nations' top court ordered Russia to stop military operations in Ukraine while a case is heard, a process that takes years. Russia has flouted the order by the International Court of Justice. In June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy formally approved plans to set up a new international court to prosecute senior Russian officials for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Europe's top human rights court has ruled that Russia was responsible for widespread violations of international law in Ukraine, including the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014, marking the first time an international court has held Moscow accountable for human rights abuses related to the conflict there. Judges at the European Court of Human Rights on Wednesday delivered decisions on four cases brought by Ukraine and the Netherlands against Russia since the start of the conflict in 2014. The allegations include murder, torture, rape, destroying civilian infrastructure, kidnapping Ukrainian children and shooting down the Malaysian Airlines passenger jet, Flight MH17, by Ukrainian separatists who side with Russia. Reading the decisions before a packed courtroom in Strasbourg, Court President Mattias Guyomar said Russian forces breached international humanitarian law in Ukraine by carrying out attacks that "killed and wounded thousands of civilians and created fear and terror". The judges found the human rights abuses went beyond any military objective and Russia used sexual violence as part of a strategy to break Ukrainian morale, the French judge said. "The use of rape as a weapon of war was an act of extreme atrocity that amounted to torture," Guyomar said. The complaints were brought before the court's governing body expelled Moscow in 2022, following the full-scale invasion. The decisions are largely symbolic since Moscow says it plans to ignore them. "We won't abide by it, we consider it void," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a call with reporters. Families of the victims of the MH17 disaster see the decision as an important milestone in their 11-year quest for justice. The Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down on July 17, 2014, using a Russian-made Buk missile fired from territory in eastern Ukraine controlled by separatist rebels. All 298 passengers and crew were killed, including 196 Dutch citizens and 38 Australians. In May, the UN's aviation agency found Russia responsible for the disaster. The ECHR is an important part of the Council of Europe, which is the continent's foremost human rights institution. Russia was expelled from the council over Moscow's invasion and war in Ukraine. However, the court can still deal with cases against Russia dating from before its expulsion. In 2023, the judges sided with Ukraine and the Netherlands in a challenge over jurisdiction, finding there was sufficient evidence to show areas in eastern Ukraine controlled by separatist rebels were "under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation", including providing weapons, and giving political and economic support. Wednesday's rulings will not be the last from the EHCR dealing with the war. Kyiv has other cases pending against Russia and there are nearly 10,000 cases brought by individuals against the Kremlin. The decisions in Strasbourg are separate from a criminal prosecution in the Netherlands in which two Russians and a Ukrainian rebel were convicted in absentia of multiple murders for their roles in the downing of Flight MH17. In 2022, the United Nations' top court ordered Russia to stop military operations in Ukraine while a case is heard, a process that takes years. Russia has flouted the order by the International Court of Justice. In June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy formally approved plans to set up a new international court to prosecute senior Russian officials for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
