Australia, Malaysia vow to ensure justice to MH17 victims

Five years after the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down with 298 persons on board, both the governments reiterated their determination in bringing justice to the victims.

Adelaide:Australia and Malaysia on Wednesday vowed to guarantee justice to the victims of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was accidentally shot down in eastern Ukraine with 298 people on board in 2014.

According to the investigation, pro-Russian militias who were positioned at eastern Ukraine shot down the aircraft with a surface to air missile on July 17, 2014.

Australia on Wednesday also spoke out about holding Russia responsible for bringing down the plane.

"Five years might have passed, but our resolve for accountability and justice would not wane. The Malaysian government will continue to pursue those who were responsible for this heinous crime and justice for the victims," the Malaysian transport ministry said.

On the fifth anniversary of the crash, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said, "Together with the Netherlands we are engaging in talks with the Russian Federation arising out of our joint assertion on 25 May 2018 of Russia's state responsibility for its role in the downing."

Payne said the Joint Investigation Team took a significant step towards justice and accountability when it last month moved to indict three Russians and a Ukrainian over the incident.

The JIT's June report, which announced that charges would be pressed against the suspects in the Netherlands, was met with criticism from Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who denounced alleged political motivations for incriminating Russia and demanded proof of guilt.

However, the Malaysian government said that it would continue working with members of the JIT.

Family members of the Australian victims of the incident gathered in front of the Russian consulate in Sydney on Wednesday. There they left black cards with the names of the dead and read a letter urging Moscow to stop its "denials and lies."

"We reiterate our deepest condolences to the families and relatives of the victims of this terrible crime," the Russian embassy in Australia tweeted on its official account.

Russia has vehemently denied the inquiry commission's two main arguments: that the missile was launched from an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists and that it had been transported from Russia, where it may have been sent back to after the catastrophe.