European Court: Russia Responsible for 2014 Malaysia Airlines Crash, 298 Dead
Strasbourg, 10 July – (www.deccanlive.com): The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Russia was responsible for shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014. The tragic incident killed all 298 people on board, including 283 passengers and 15 crew members. This is the first time an international court has officially blamed Russia for the disaster.
What Happened?
On 17 July 2014, flight MH17 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. As it passed over eastern Ukraine — an area controlled by pro-Russian rebels — it was hit by a Russian-made Buk surface-to-air missile. The court said the missile was intentionally fired, possibly because the plane was mistaken for a military aircraft.
The victims included people from 17 countries:
- 198 Dutch
- 43 Malaysians
- 38 Australians
- 10 British citizens
Court’s Decision
The court found that Russia not only denied responsibility but also failed to cooperate in the investigation, which added to the pain of the victims’ families. The court also highlighted other human rights violations by Russia in Ukraine, including killings, torture, rape, destruction of civilian areas, and kidnapping of children.
Due to Russia’s expulsion from the Council of Europe in 2022, the court said it may be difficult to collect compensation from Russia, though it will decide about damages later.
Reactions
Ukraine called the ruling “historic” and a “clear victory.” The Netherlands said it brings justice to the families, even if it cannot ease their grief.
Russia’s Response
Russia rejected the court’s decision and said it will not follow the ruling. The Kremlin claimed the judgment is invalid and insisted it had no role in the attack.
This court ruling is separate from a 2022 criminal case in the Netherlands, where two Russians and one Ukrainian rebel were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Russia refused to hand them over.
In 2025, the UN’s aviation agency ICAO also blamed Russia for the attack, prompting Australia and the Netherlands to launch legal action.
