On May 13, the United Nations Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) voted to determine Russia's failure to fulfill its obligations under international aviation law, in which it requires countries to " restrain themselves from using weapons against flying civil aircraft".
Flight MH17 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down in Ukraine's Donbass region during the conflict between pro-Russian Ukrainian breakaway forces and Kiev forces.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 carrying 298 people was shot down in eastern Ukraine by a Russian-made missile. The plane was carrying 38 Australian citizens, 10 British citizens, as well as citizens from Belgium and Malaysia.
The case was submitted to the United Nations by the Australian and Dutch governments in 2022.
Both countries welcomed the ICAO ruling on May 12.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong called on Russia to take responsibility and compensate for the incident.
Meanwhile, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said this was an " orderly step to establish the truth, enforce justice and ensure accountability". This move also sends a clear message to the international community: "Changes cannot violate international law without being punished".
In 2022, a Dutch court ruled that a Russian-controlled group had shot down MH17 and two Koreans and a Ukrainian citizen had been convicted of murder. All 3 were sentenced to life in prison. Because they were not extradited, all three have not yet been sentenced.
