Russia has officially been held legally responsible by Australia and the Netherlands for its role in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014. Recall back in 2014, MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. A report from the Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT) issued Thursday, said Russian military owned the Buk anti-aircraft system used to bring down the jet. 
Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister, Stef Blok said in a statement on Friday “The Netherlands and Australia are now convinced that Russia is responsible for the deployment of the Buk installation that was used to down MH17. The government is now taking the next step by formally holding Russia accountable,” Blok said. “Australia and the Netherlands have informed the Russian Federation that we hold it responsible under international law for its role in the downing of MH17,” Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said. 
Bishop and Blok said also revealed that their governments asked Russia on Friday to enter talks about its role in the disaster in order to find a solution “that would do justice to the tremendous suffering and damage” caused by the downing. The case will be presented to an international court or organization for judgement next, the Dutch and Australian governments said. Photo Credit: Getty
