European Union High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell has called Thursday’s ruling by a Netherlands court on the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine in July 2014 an «important step» towards «truth and accountability.»
In this regard, Borrell recalled in a statement that the EU already deplored more than eight years ago «the loss of so many lives» –298 people–, while also expressing its dismay at the reports surrounding the case.
The EU then «repeatedly» called for clarification of the causes of the downing, as well as an international investigation into the tragedy. «We have been equally consistent in condemning such acts of violence that threaten the safety of civil aviation and constitute serious violations of international peace and security,» it added.
Borrell thus reiterated his call on Russia «to accept its responsibility for this tragedy and to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigations.» The ruling states that the plane was hit by a Russian-made ‘Buk’ missile that was allegedly launched from a territory located in Pervomaisk, in the Lugansk region.
«The criminal investigation into the involvement of other persons is still ongoing, as are proceedings against the Russian state in the European Court of Human Rights and in the International Civil Aviation Organization,» it concluded.
The court singled out Russian defendants Igor Girkin and Sergei Dubinsky, as well as Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko, as responsible for the attack and sentenced them to life imprisonment. A fourth defendant was acquitted as it could not be proven that he gave orders to fire the missile.
