The Eight Year Anniversary of the Downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17
As delivered by Deputy Political Counselor Lewis Gitter
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
July 21, 2022
This last Sunday marked eight years since the July 17, 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight #17 (MH-17) over Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine. The United States joins other OSCE participating states in honoring the memory of all 298 victims, including 193 Dutch citizens and one U.S. citizen. We take this opportunity to again extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of all who were lost that day.
Our commemoration this year takes place in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine characterized by daily atrocities against civilians. There must be justice for the passengers on flight MH-17 whose lives were senselessly cut short, just as for all victims of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Russia’s continued refusal to cooperate with international efforts to establish accountability is yet another example of its flagrant disregard for international law. Those responsible must be held accountable for the downing of MH-17.
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