Australian law firm files claims on Russia over MH17
Darko Janjevic
May 21, 2016
An Australian law firm has filed a claim against Russia and President Putin seeking millions for each passenger killed in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine in 2014. All 298 people on board died.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Zykina
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Relatives of MH17 victims intend to seek compensation before the European Court of Human Rights, according to Saturday's edition of the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.
The Malaysia Airlines plane was shot down while en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur in 2014, with 298 people on board. The aircraft was flying above eastern Ukraine at a time of heavy fighting between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian forces.
A Dutch-led team of international investigators concluded that it was shot down by a surface-to-air missile. The Dutch Safety Board, however, was not able to say who fired the missile.
Many Western officials and experts have blamed pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine for shooting down the civilian plane.
Damages as deterrent
According to the report, the Sydney-based law firm LHD named Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation as respondents for their damages claim. The firm represents 33 relatives of victims, including eight from Australia and one from New Zealand.
The lawyers intend to seek 10 million Australian dollars ($7.2 million) per victim.
"My clients want accountability for the deed," said LHD co-associate Jerry Skinner. "They want enough money to reflect that the Russians take this seriously and it serves as a deterrent," he told the Herald.
No reply from Moscow
The lawsuit claims that Russia attempted to hide its involvement in the tragedy. The Kremlin failed to conduct an internal investigation, refused to help in cockpit reconstruction and allegedly had a hacker group attack the website of Western investigators, according to papers filed by LHD.
Skinner added that he had urged Russia to discuss the terms. However, he has heard "nothing from Russia, from their embassy or from the contact points ... to indicate they are willing to talk about negotiating."
'Pointless to comment'
Responding to Saturday reports, Kremlin said that it had no information about the claim targeting the country and the president.
Deputy Justice Minister Georgy Matiushkin said during an interview with radio station Echo of Moscow that it was "pointless to comment" on the issue at this point.
Any lawsuit addressed to the European Court of Human Rights would only exist "when communicated officially, and that hasn't happened so far," said Matiushkin, who also serves as Moscow's envoy at the Strasbourg court.
War crimes in Ukraine?
A new UN report accuses pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine of possible war crimes. The authors also accuse the Ukrainian army of having done wrong there.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
The war enters the cities
Fighting between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian army has intensified around the cities of Luhansk and Donetsk. The situation for the local population keeps getting worse, the UN Human Rights Commission finds. It especially accuses the pro-Russian separatists of severe crimes.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
In mourning for father and son
More than 1,100 people have been killed in the fighting since mid-April, according to the UN. Not just armed fighters, but also countless civilians, among them many children, have lost their lives. These people grieve for a father and his little son who died in artillery fire near Luhansk.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Heavy weaponry in residential areas
Civilians often get caught in the crossfire, according to the UN. Heavy weaponry is being employed in densely populated areas not just by the separatists, like here in Donetsk, but also by the Ukrainian army. The United Nations urge all sides to exercise better measures of precaution to protect civilians’ lives.
Image: Getty Images
Reign of terror by separatists
The report accuses the pro-Russian separatists of abducting, torturing and executing people. The separatists are "rough and brutal" as well as "well-equipped and organized" and often under the command of Russian nationals, according to the UN Human Rights Commission. The UN body has 39 observers on the ground and has documented more than 800 cases of abductions by separatists since mid-April.
Image: picture-alliance/AP
Fleeing the East
More than 100,000 people have had to leave their homes. Many live in emergency shelters, like here in Kharkiv, to escape the terror of the separatists and the fighting. There are also reports about Russian-speaking residents of eastern Ukraine who have fled to neighboring Russia.
Image: DW/A. Ainduchowa
Shooting down MH17: a war crime
On July 17, a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 crashed in eastern Ukraine. All 298 people on board were killed. The passenger jet was most probably shot down by pro-Russian separatists. That could be interpreted as a war crime, said UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Justice in The Hague?
Those responsible could face charges before the International Criminal Court. The UN Human Rights Commissioner warns: anybody violating international law will be brought to justice. That also applies to foreign fighters involved in the conflict.
