ECHR Holds Russia Responsible for MH17, Ukraine Abuses

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) unanimously ruled that Russia is responsible for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, which killed all 298 people on board, including Dutch and Australian citizens. The court found that Russia supplied the missile system, failed to verify its target, and did not properly investigate the incident, while its denial and lack of cooperation intensified the suffering of victims' families. The ECHR also determined that Russia committed widespread and systematic human rights abuses in Ukraine since 2014, such as summary executions, torture, rape, forced displacement, looting, and the unlawful transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia. These acts, including the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, were described as part of a deliberate strategy by Russian forces and allied separatists. Despite the decision, Russia has rejected the court's authority after its expulsion from the Council of Europe in 2022. The ruling is largely symbolic, providing recognition and a sense of justice to victims and families though enforcement is unlikely.