Rejecting UN Agency Decision On Malaysia Airlines Tragedy MH17 Kremlin: We Don't Accept Bias Conclusions

Dmitry Peskov. (Source: Kremlin)

The Kremlin on Tuesday rejected a decision deemed biased by the UN aviation council, which assessed Russia was responsible for the crash of Malaysia Airlines (MH17) over Ukraine in 2014 which killed all 298 passengers and crew.

"Our position is well known. You know that Russia is not a country that participates in the investigation of this incident, so we do not accept biased conclusions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 departed Amsterdam for Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014, and was shot down over eastern Ukraine, as fighting raged between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian troops.

The victims included 196 Dutch nationals and 38 Australian citizens or residents.

As previously reported, the International Civil Aviation Organization Council (ICAO) on Tuesday held Russia accountable for the shooting of the Malaysia Airlines Aviation 17 (MH17) plane over Ukraine more than a decade ago, a decision that could pave the way for compensation for families of 298 victims.

An international Dutch-led investigation concluded in 2016 that the plane that took off from Amsterdam, the Netherlands to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was shot down on July 17, 2014, from Ukrainian territory controlled by separatist rebels using the Buk missile system sent from Russia.

The council found Russia had violated the International Civil Aviation Convention, known as the Chicago Convention, which required countries "to exercise restraint against civilian aircraft in flight."

This is the first time the council, which represents 193 member states, has decided on a dispute between governments.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said the council would consider compensation issues within weeks.

"In that context, the Netherlands and Australia asked the ICAO Council to order the Russian Federation to hold negotiations with the Netherlands and Australia, and for the Council to facilitate this process," Foreign Minister Veldkamp said in a statement.

"The last thing is important to ensure that negotiations are carried out in good faith and according to a certain schedule, and that these negotiations will produce tangible results," he added.

In November 2022, Dutch judges sentenced two Russian men and a Ukrainian man in absence of charges of murder for their role in the attack.

Moscow called the decision "embarrassing" and said it would not extradite its citizens.