2 Nations Hold Russia Responsible for Downing Jet

Netherlands, Australia plan to seek legal compensation over MH17 crash in 2014
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted May 25, 2018 12:50 PM CDT
Netherlands, Australia Pursue MH17 Case Against Russia
In this July 17, 2014 file photo, people walk amongst the debris at the crash site of MH17 near Grabovo, Ukraine.   (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky, File)

"The only conclusion we can reasonably now draw is that Russia was directly involved in the downing of MH17," Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Friday—a day after investigators concluded the missile system used to bring the plane down over eastern Ukraine in 2014 belonged to the Russian military. Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok said much the same at a news conference at The Hague, per Reuters, adding that the Netherlands and Australia "call on Russia to accept its responsibility and cooperate fully with the process to establish the truth and achieve justice for the victims."

Blok said the two countries would seek compensation from Russia, which they hope to engage in talks before possibly presenting a case to an international court. A statement from the Dutch government, however, noted holding Russia accountable for violating international law would be a "complex legal process," per the BBC. Moscow has denied involvement in the disaster and says it "rejects the version of the Dutch investigators." The plane was shot down over territory controlled by pro-Russian separatist forces. (More Malaysia Airlines MH17 stories.)

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