On Wednesday, family members dressed in black assembled near Amsterdam to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, as the likelihood diminishes that those accountable for the tragedy will face justice. Russia has declined to extradite three individuals convicted by a Dutch court for their involvement in the incident, and international investigators halted their efforts last year, citing insufficient evidence to pursue further prosecutions.
Evert van Zijtveld, who lost his daughter Frederique, 19, son Robert-Jan, 18, and his in-laws, expressed skepticism that those responsible would serve their sentences. Hundreds of relatives, government officials, and dignitaries, many attired in black, convened at a memorial park close to Schiphol airport where MH17 took off on July 17, 2014. The Boeing 777 was subsequently shot down by a Russian-made BUK missile over eastern Ukraine, resulting in the death of all 298 passengers and crew.
The memorial event was televised nationally, and several Dutch cities pledged to lower the Dutch flag to half-mast. The victims hailed from at least ten countries, with the majority being Dutch, Malaysian, and Australian. Similar commemorations occurred globally, including at the Australian parliament in Canberra, where family members laid flowers and mourned.
Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong reaffirmed the nation's resolve to hold Russia accountable. In November 2022, a Dutch court sentenced three men to life imprisonment in absentia for their roles in the downing of the plane. The suspects, Igor Girkin, Sergei Dubinsky, and Leonid Kharchenko, were implicated in the transportation and deployment of the missile, though none admitted to their involvement.
A fourth suspect, Oleg Pulatov, was acquitted. Investigators concluded that there were strong indications that President Vladimir Putin approved the missile's supply. The EU urged Russia to accept responsibility and cooperate in delivering justice. The evidence presented during the trial unequivocally linked the missile system to the Russian armed forces.
Russia has consistently refused to extradite the suspects, citing legal constraints. The Russian Embassy in The Hague denied involvement and accused other nations of political bias. Ukraine's security service condemned Russia for the atrocity, noting the ongoing conflict and the challenges it poses to securing justice for the accused.
