Australia today called on Russia to "take responsibility" for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine, on the 10th anniversary of the tragedy.
298 people died in the disaster, including 38 Australian residents and citizens.
"Australia remains steadfast in its commitment to seeking truth, justice and holding those responsible for this horrific act of violence to account," said Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and the country's Attorney General Mark Dreyfuss in a communicated.
In November 2022, a court in The Hague sentenced Russians Igor Girkin and Sergei Dubinskiy and Ukrainian separatist Leonid Kharchenko to life imprisonment in absentia for their involvement in the downing of flight MH17, which linked Kuala Lumpur to Amsterdam, as well as the deaths of 298 people. on board.
"The court unequivocally and conclusively established Russia's responsibility" in the disaster, the statement said.
Since this conviction, the Australian Government has imposed sanctions against the three Russians and against Sergei Muchkaev, who commanded the Russian brigade that fired the surface-to-air missile that brought down flight MH17, he added.
Last year, an international team of experts concluded, after an investigation into the tragedy, that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally authorized the delivery of air defense systems to Ukrainian separatists, including the Buk missile system that shot down MH17. , although his immunity prevents him from being tried.
On the tenth anniversary of the tragedy, Australia, which together with the Netherlands is seeking Russia to account for the overthrow at the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization, called on Moscow to "take responsibility for the role it played and cooperate to ensure that these perpetrators carry out their sentences."
On the other hand, the Australian Government held a ceremony in Canberra's Parliament to honor the victims of MH17 and the personnel who responded to the tragedy, with the participation of those responsible and hundreds of family members of the fatal victims.
"Our fellow Australians remember and honor the precious beings they lost 10 years ago. These men, women and children are part of you", said, at the ceremony, the Governor General of Australia, Sam Mostyn, who represents the country's head of state , King Charles of England.
"It was a tragedy, but also an atrocity", said former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who governed the country at the time of the accident, adding that Putin owes the victims' families "an apology and compensation".
