Relatives of seventy people who were killed when flight MH17 was shot out of
the sky, have filed a complaint against Russia at the European Court of Human
Rights (ECtHR). They accuse Russia of bringing down the Boeing over Eastern
Ukraine in 2014 and of opposing the truth-finding in the years thereafter.
 
Prime Minister Mark Rutte showed "all understanding" for the step of the next
of kin. They are free to do so and they have every right to do so, he said.
Rutte does not find it necessary to support this group. He pointed to the
"own" cases in which the Netherlands is involved, such as the international
investigation into the disaster and the attempt to force Russia to cooperate
in the investigation.
 
Fundamental rights
The next of kin who now complain are bothered by the position of the Russian
Federation, says their lawyer Veeru Mewa. Russia would have violated their
fundamental rights.
 
For the 95 surviving relatives, a judgment of the European Court is "of
enormous importance for the processing and recognition of their position,"
says Mewa. In concrete terms, according to the indictment, Russia has violated
the right to life and with it the right to "respect for family life." When
Malaysia Airlines aircraft was shot from the sky, 298 people were killed, of
whom 196 were from the Netherlands. .
 
Disinformation
By not cooperating properly with the investigation of the international Joint
Investigation Team (JIT), which wants to prosecute the perpetrators under
Dutch leadership, Russia also violates its duty to conduct effective
investigations into crimes. "Russia not only fails to cooperate, but also
distributes disinformation."
 
Russia signed the European Convention on Human Rights in the nineties and thus
recognized the court. The judges in Strasbourg have already condemned Moscow
hundreds of times for human rights violations. Among other members of the punk
band / action group Pussy Riot and opposition leader Aleksej Navalny found the
court ruling in their fqvour.

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 * Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)