03:47France: ECHR declares Ukrainian and Dutch complaints on MH17 'admissible'
The European Court of Human Rights ruled that cases brought by the Netherlands and Ukraine against Russia, including on the downing of flight MH17, could be considered for adjudication, during a briefing in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
The decision means that a trial, which could take up to two years, will go ahead on the complaints by the two countries, relating to actions and events in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.
In the series of procedural announcements, President of the European Court Siofra O’Leary confirmed that parts of the three claims brought were 'unanimously admissible' but 'without prejudging the merits', while a number of other sections were thrown out.
The cases argue that Moscow should be held liable for human rights violations in the regions, which Russia has maintained were under Ukrainian separatist control. The claims were filed ahead of the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Dutch Justice Minister Kilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius claimed it was another 'important step in finding the truth and justice for the victims of flight MH17'.
Russia’s parliament voted to break with the court in June last year, so any decisions will be unenforceable and largely symbolic. Moscow has not released a comment on the ECHR decision.
In November, Dutch judges convicted two Russians and one Ukrainian in abstentia of downing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014, sentencing them to life in prison. A third Russian was acquitted of the charges.
Moscow has repeatedly strongly denied any involvement in the incident, in which 298 passengers and crew lost their lives. The country’s Foreign Ministry claimed that ruling 'neglected the principles of impartial justice for the sake of the current political situation'.
03:47Mandatory credit: ECHR
The European Court of Human Rights ruled that cases brought by the Netherlands and Ukraine against Russia, including on the downing of flight MH17, could be considered for adjudication, during a briefing in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
The decision means that a trial, which could take up to two years, will go ahead on the complaints by the two countries, relating to actions and events in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.
In the series of procedural announcements, President of the European Court Siofra O’Leary confirmed that parts of the three claims brought were 'unanimously admissible' but 'without prejudging the merits', while a number of other sections were thrown out.
The cases argue that Moscow should be held liable for human rights violations in the regions, which Russia has maintained were under Ukrainian separatist control. The claims were filed ahead of the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Dutch Justice Minister Kilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius claimed it was another 'important step in finding the truth and justice for the victims of flight MH17'.
Russia’s parliament voted to break with the court in June last year, so any decisions will be unenforceable and largely symbolic. Moscow has not released a comment on the ECHR decision.
In November, Dutch judges convicted two Russians and one Ukrainian in abstentia of downing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014, sentencing them to life in prison. A third Russian was acquitted of the charges.
Moscow has repeatedly strongly denied any involvement in the incident, in which 298 passengers and crew lost their lives. The country’s Foreign Ministry claimed that ruling 'neglected the principles of impartial justice for the sake of the current political situation'.