Flight MH17
On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was downed over the east of Ukraine. All 298 people on board, including 196 Dutch nationals, lost their lives.
The Dutch government wants the downing to be investigated as thoroughly as possible and has set three objectives: to establish the truth, achieve justice for the victims of Flight MH17 and their next of kin, and hold to account those responsible for downing Flight MH17.
The Netherlands, with the support of the international community, has worked tirelessly to achieve this, and continues to do so. Since Flight MH17 was downed, major steps have been taken towards establishing truth, justice and accountability. An overview is provided below.
Repatriating the victims, technical and factual investigation
Criminal investigation and proceedings
State responsibility
European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)
19 July 2014
Dutch investigators travel to Ukraine
19 July 2014
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service starts a criminal investigation
21 July 2014
The Security Council of the United Nations adopts Resolution 2166
23 July 2014
First MH17 victims repatriated to the Netherlands
24 July 2014
The Dutch Safety Board investigates the circumstances of the crash of Flight MH17
7 August 2014
Joint Investigation Team (JIT) established
27 October 2014
The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization adopts a Resolution concerning the downing of Flight MH17
13 October 2015
Dutch Safety Board report: Flight MH17 downed by a Buk missile
6 May 2016
First individual application lodged with the European Court of Human Rights against the Russian Federation
28 September 2016
JIT: Flight MH17 downed by a Buk surface-to-air missile fired from a Buk-TELAR in the east of Ukraine
5 July 2017
Decision by JIT countries: prosecution to take place in the Netherlands under Dutch law
17 July 2017
Unveiling of Flight MH17 memorial near the village of Vijfhuizen
24 May 2018
JIT: the Buk-TELAR used to down Flight MH17 belongs to the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of the Russian army
25 May 2018
The Netherlands and Australia jointly invoke the responsibility of the Russian Federation under international law for its role in the downing of Flight MH17
23 November 2018
Second individual application lodged with the European Court of Human Rights against the Russian Federation
27 March 2019
Dutch government announces that a first meeting of Australia and the Netherlands with the Russian Federation has taken place
10 May 2019
Dutch government decides to intervene in the individual applications by the next of kin
19 June 2019
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service announces, on the basis of the JIT investigation, that it will prosecute four suspects. The JIT investigation continues
1 October 2019
Motion of representative Van Dam c.s.
9 March 2020
Start of trial of four suspects before The Hague District Court. Hearings held at Justice Complex Schiphol
10 July 2020
The Netherlands submits its intervention in individual applications as well as an interstate application at the ECtHR against the Russian Federation
15 October 2020
Russian Federation withdraws from trilateral talks with the Netherlands and Australia
5 February 2021
Factual inquiry by the Flight Safety Foundation
7 June 2021
Start of substantive treatment of criminal proceedings against four suspects before The Hague District Court
6 September 2021
Exercising the right to speak by 91 next of kin - partly from the courtroom at the Schiphol Judicial Complex
22 December 2021
Public Prosecution recommends life imprisonment against the four suspects
26 January 2022
Hearing on admissibility in the state complaint procedure of the Netherlands against the Russian Federation at the ECtHR
14 March 2022
The Netherlands and Australia initiate legal proceedings against Russia at ICAO
17 November 2022
Judgment criminal trial: three suspects convicted for the downing of Flight MH17, one acquitted
1 December 2022
Judgments criminal trial become final
25 January 2023
The ECtHR has declared the state complaint procedure of the Netherlands against the Russian Federation admissible
17 March 2023
ICAO-Council confirms jurisdiction in case of the Netherlands and Australia against the Russian Federation
12 June 2024