ICAO Rules Russia Responsible for Downing MH17

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council has ruled that Russia was responsible for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine, which killed 298 people, including 38 Australians. This is the first instance of the ICAO Council making a merits-based determination between member states under its dispute settlement process. The case was initiated by Australia and the Netherlands, who accused Russia of violating international civil aviation law by using weapons against a civilian aircraft. The Council will consider possible reparations in the coming weeks. Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp welcomed the ruling as a major step toward accountability, stressing that states must not violate international law with impunity. Although ICAO lacks enforcement powers, its decisions hold substantial moral and diplomatic influence among its 193 member states.