Facts

G7 foreign ministers call on Russia to cooperate with investigation on MH17

The foreign ministers of the G7 countries have called on Russia to cooperate with the investigation into the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in the sky over Donbas in the summer of 2014.

"We, the G7 foreign ministers, of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, are united in our condemnation, in the strongest possible terms, of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a civilian aircraft flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014 [...] We fully support the work of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), an independent criminal investigation led by the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine. The JIT's findings on Russia's role in the downing of MH17 are compelling, significant and deeply disturbing," the G7 foreign ministers said in a statement.

The foreign ministers also added that they are united in their support of Australia and the Netherlands as they call on Russia to account for its role in this incident and to cooperate fully with the process to establish the truth and achieve justice for the victims of MH17 and their next of kin.

"We stand together against the impunity of those who engage in aggressive actions that threaten the rules-based international order, anywhere, anytime, and under any circumstances," the document says.

The statement also emphasizes that "in a rules-based international order, those responsible for unacceptable actions, such as the firing or launching of the BUK missile of Russian origin, which intercepted and downed a civilian aircraft, must be held accountable."

"We call on Russia to immediately engage with Australia and the Netherlands in good faith to explain and to address all relevant questions regarding any potential breaches of international law," the G7 foreign ministers said.

The Boeing 777 operated by Malaysia Airlines, en route from Amsterdam (the Netherlands) to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), was shot down in the sky over Donetsk region on July 17, 2014. There were 298 people on board. All of them died.

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