{"id":1267106,"date":"2025-12-09T15:08:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T13:08:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/?p=1267106"},"modified":"2025-12-09T15:08:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T13:08:12","slug":"accountability-must-be-ensured-for-mh17-and-russia-s-war-against-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/en\/accountability-must-be-ensured-for-mh17-and-russia-s-war-against-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"Accountability Must Be Ensured for MH17 and Russia\u2019s War Against Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Committee of Ministers begins first review of the ECHR judgment on Russia\u2019s aggression, UATV English <\/a>reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At its latest quarterly session on the implementation of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings, the Council of Europe\u2019s<\/a> Committee of Ministers examined\u2014for the first time\u2014the landmark judgment in the inter-state case Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia<\/em>. The ruling covers Russia\u2019s actions in eastern Ukraine since 2014, the full-scale invasion launched on 24 February 2022, and the July 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Russia is no longer a member of the Council of Europe and has cut off all communication regarding the execution of ECHR judgments, it remains legally bound by its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. For this reason, the Committee of Ministers invited member states to explore all possible avenues to secure implementation of the judgment and ensure accountability for the grave violations of international law it identifies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cInternational cooperation is essential to secure the implementation of this historic judgment,\u201d the Committee stated. The Council of Europe will therefore transmit these decisions to international bodies\u2014including the United Nations, OSCE, and European Union\u2014encouraging them to take the Court\u2019s findings into account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset called the decision \u201ca significant step toward our shared objective of holding Russia accountable for its war of aggression,\u201d noting its link to broader accountability efforts such as the Register of Damage for Ukraine<\/em> and the planned International Claims Commission<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Committee stressed that the scale and nature of the violence in Ukraine, combined with Russia\u2019s rhetoric questioning Ukraine\u2019s existence, are unprecedented in the history of the Council of Europe. Such actions, it warned, pose a threat to European peace and undermine the democratic foundations upon which the Council and its member states are built. The Committee condemned Russia\u2019s ongoing aggression in the strongest possible terms and demanded its immediate and unconditional cessation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MH17: Russia must acknowledge responsibility<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Reiterating its strongest condemnation of the downing of flight MH17 on 17 July 2014, the Committee highlighted the profound suffering endured by the victims\u2019 families\u2014suffering aggravated by Russia\u2019s persistent denials and obstruction of investigations, which the Court found amounted to inhuman treatment. The Committee insisted that Russia must issue a public apology acknowledging responsibility for the deaths of all 298 passengers and crew, including children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlawful attacks, abductions, and systemic abuses<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The Committee also reviewed the administrative and military practices documented by the Court from 2014 to September 2022, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n