Russia should pay compensation to families of MH17 victims, Julie Bishop says
Updated
Russia should pay compensation to the families of the 38 Australians killed by the shooting down of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, according to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
Key Points:
- Australia announces it holds Russia responsible under international law for bringing down MH17
- 298 people including 38 Australians were killed when the Malaysian Airlines jet was shot down in July 2014
- Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says Australia and the Netherlands want Russia to pay reparations
Official investigators are now convinced the Russian Federation's 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade was responsible for the missile attack.
As a result, Australia and the Netherlands have told Russia they hold it legally responsible for the shooting down of the passenger plane.
Ms Bishop said the families of victims want to see Russia held to account.
"They want to see closure but they also deserve justice and we will be seeking reparations for the atrocities caused by this conduct," Ms Bishop said.
"We hold it responsible under international law for its role in the bringing down of MH17."
The Boeing 777 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down on July 17, 2014.
All 298 people onboard were killed.
It was just 50 kilometres from the Ukraine-Russia border and the investigation into who brought it down continues.
The deadly incident happened during the war in Donbass.
But Russia's defence ministry said it had nothing to do with the downing of the plane, Interfax news agency reported yesterday.
The military denied any missile complex had ever crossed the border between Russia and Ukraine, according to a report from TASS news agency.
The Australian Government announced in the May budget it would put $50 million over four years towards the prosecution costs of bringing those responsible to justice.
Topics: government-and-politics, foreign-affairs, air-and-space, australia
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