MH17 killers will be punished – PM
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has vowed that the killers who downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 with a Russian missile in 2014 will be brought to justice.
A Dutch-led investigation has found that close to 100 people were linked to the transport and firing of the missile, and that it was driven from Russia into an area of eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed rebels.
All 298 people aboard the flight, including 38 Australian citizens or residents, died in the attack.
Turnbull said yesterday Australia would continue to pursue Russia over the tragedy.
‘‘The perpetrator, the crim- inals, the killers that did should be brought to justice.’’
Turnbull said he had discussed the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent weeks, and Australia would continue to press Russia within the United Nations Security Council to allow prosecutions to take place.
Turnbull said all victims from different nationalities deserved justice. ‘‘We will be tireless in our efforts to ensure that justice is done.’’
Tony Abbott, who was prime minister at the time of the MH17 tragedy, said Moscow needed to face facts.
‘‘A very thorough Dutch-led report on the MH17 atrocity, confirming that a Russian missile downed the plane,’’ he tweeted. ‘‘Putin should face the truth.’’ this
Abbott famously threatened to ‘‘shirtfront’’ Putin over the incident.
Families from Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia have called on the Australian government to give moral and public support to their claim in the European Court of Human Rights, where they have each sought US$10 million in damages for the murder of their loved ones on MH17.
United States international lawyer Jerry Skinner, who successfully sued the Libyan government for compensation over the Lockerbie disaster, will meet Australian Department of Foreign Affairs staff next week. He wants to extract heavyweight political backing for the families’ European legal battle against Russia and Putin for their roles in destroying the Boeing 777 as it flew over Ukraine on July 17, 2014.
Skinner, who represents 33 next of kin, including many Australians, yesterday said Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop had promised the families at memorial services in Australia that the government was behind them.
‘‘Now is the time we need that support.
‘‘We don’t want staff or money or [to] have the government involved in the legal case, but we do need the government to recognise what we are doing in a private effort against Russia is a small part to achieve justice.
‘‘Just having that statement from a supportive government with clean hands in this would help.’’
Skinner filed the claim against Putin and the Russian state earlier this year, but Russia has ignored the court’s request for a response.
‘‘This is very difficult for the families but it is very important to them,’’ Skinner said. ‘‘They all want answers, and this investigation helps.’’
Two weeks ago, Skinner wrote to Putin through diplomatic channels seeking a meeting. He said that if Putin responded and exercised diplomacy, it would ‘‘cost a lot less than $US330m’’.
Most families of MH17 victims have received an advance compensation payment of US$50,000 from Malaysia Airlines, but many are suing the airline for further damages because it has been less than generous in its offers, well below the 163,000 stipulated in the Montreal Convention.