The Netherlands government said on Friday it would take Russia to the European Court of Human Rights for its role in bringing down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine in 2014.
Foreign Minister Stef Blok says the “highest priority” is justice for the 298 victims on board the plane shot down over eastern Ukraine.
It happened after Russian-backed rebels seized the area.
Dutch-led investigators say they have proof the Buk missile system that shot down the plane was brought from Russia.
Russia has repeatedly denied involvement in the attack.
Citizens of 10 different countries died on board the Boeing 777 airliner that was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. More than two-thirds of the victims were Dutch nationals.
In March, a trial opened in the Netherlands of three Russian and one Ukrainian citizens – still at large – for the murder of 298 people on board the plane. They are all linked to the pro-Moscow separatists.
In a statement, the Dutch foreign ministry said the government “decided to bring Russia before the European Court of Human Rights for its role in the downing of Flight MH17”.
It said that “by taking this course of action the government is offering maximum support” to individual cases already brought against Russia by victims’ families.
“Achieving justice for 298 victims of the downing of Flight MH17 is and will remain the government’s highest priority,” said Mr Blok.
“By taking this step today… we are moving closer to this goal,” he added.
At the same time, the Dutch foreign ministry stressed on the “importance to continuing the meetings with Russia on the matter of state responsibility”.
Source: BBC
