EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in a statement on the 10th anniversary of the downing of the Malaysia Airlines plane over Ukraine stressed that the Buk surface-to-air missile system used at the time undoubtedly belonged to the armed forces of the Russian Federation. The European Union reiterated its call on Russia to take responsibility for the tragedy and fully cooperate in the administration of justice.
The head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrell reminded that on July 17, we should pay tribute to the memory of 298 innocent people from 17 countries, including 80 children, who lost their lives as a result of the shooting down over Ukraine Malaysia Airlines passenger plane (flight MH17).
“The tenth anniversary brings back very painful memories. We express our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims. The European Union reiterates its full support for all efforts to establish truth, justice and accountability, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolution,” he added.
10 years ago, a Malaysia Airlines passenger plane was shot down over Ukraine Reuters
Borrell: Buk missile system belonged to Russia
Borrell recalled that on November 17, 2022, a court in The Hague sentenced three people in absentia to life imprisonment for their role in shooting down the plane. They are Russians Sergei Dubinsky and Igor Girkin and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko.
“The European Union stresses that the evidence presented by the Joint Investigation Team in the proceedings before the Dutch District Court and submitted to the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization clearly indicates that the Buk surface-to-air missile system used to shoot down flight MH17 belonged without a doubt to the armed forces of the Russian Federation. No Russian disinformation operation can distract from these basic facts established by the court,” he stressed.
European Union reiterated her appeal to Russia to take responsibility for this tragedy and fully cooperate in bringing justice to fruition.
Main image source: Reuters