The Netherlands and Australia will hold Russia legally responsible for “its role” in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.
The Dutch government said holding a country responsible for the 2014 air disaster, which left almost 300 people dead, was “a complex legal process.”
But, the cabinet said both The Netherlands and the Australian government wanted answers after crash investigators ruled the missile that shot down the plane was fired from Russia's 53rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade.
Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok said that following that conclusion, “the government is now taking the next step by formally holding Russia accountable.”
Mr Blok added the Netherlands and Australia have “asked Russia to enter into talks aimed at finding a solution that would do justice to the tremendous suffering and damage caused by the downing of MH17.”
The passenger flight was shot down over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew on board, including 28 Australians, as it flew from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur in July 2014.
Russia has routinely denied any involvement in the attack, claiming on Thursday none of its missile launchers have moved onto Ukrainian soil, despite photo evidence released by prosecutors seeming to suggest otherwise.
Prosecutors stopped short of saying who actually fired the fatal shot, but Mr Blok told reporters on Friday the findings “point to direct involvement of Russia.”
The foreign minister said attempts to hold Russia responsible for the plane's downing under international law would be a different, parallel process from the ongoing investigation by prosecutors seeking to establish individual criminal responsibility.
But, a Dutch cabinet statement mooted presenting the case to an international court or organisation for their judgment as a “possible” next step, adding Australia shared its assessment of Russia's role.
The father of one of the passengers has welcomed the move.
“This is great news,” said Hans de Borst, who lost his daughter, Elsemiek in the crash. “I understand why the government waited, but now the evidence is clear.”
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop called for support from the international community for the move.
“This represents a threat to international security,” she said.
“If military weapons can be deployed and then used to bring down civilian aircraft in what was essentially a war zone, then international security is at risk and we call on all countries to inform the Russian Federation that its conduct is unacceptable.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the Dutch and Australian conclusions, and said that an atmosphere of “mutual distrust” existed between the investigation team and Russia.
“We categorically deny the allegations,” he said. “The investigation was a collective investigation … but it did not include the Russian side. Ukraine, however, was allowed to participate.”
Mr Peskov said Ukraine held responsibility for the disaster given that it “took no measures to close air space in and around a war zone.”
Additional reporting by agencies
