Kremlin Rejects UN Ruling on MH17 Downing

The Kremlin dismissed a UN aviation ruling that held Russia responsible for the 2017 downing of a Malaysian airliner over Ukraine, which killed 298 people. Russia criticized the judgment as biased. In 2022, Dutch courts convicted three men for the attack, prompting further disputes with Moscow.

On Tuesday, the Kremlin strongly dismissed a ruling by the United Nations aviation council, stating that Russia was accountable for the 2017 downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine. The tragedy resulted in the loss of 298 lives, including numerous Dutch and Australian citizens.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov termed the ruling as biased, emphasizing that Russia did not participate in the investigation and therefore could not accept the conclusions drawn. The incident has remained contentious since the Ukrainian conflict in 2014 when MH17 was shot down amid clashes between pro-Russian forces and Ukraine.

In a related development, Moscow rejected the decision by Dutch judges in 2022 to convict two Russians and a Ukrainian in absentia for murder related to the attack. Russia labeled the ruling as 'scandalous' and refused to extradite the accused, further straining international relations.

(With inputs from agencies.)