Overview

• The ECHR’s Grand Chamber found Russia responsible for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 and for systematic human rights violations during its Ukraine campaign.
• The ruling resolves four inter-state applications filed by Ukraine in 2014 and 2022 and by the Netherlands in 2020, addressing abuses from civilian killings to the forced transfer of children.
• Although the verdict is legally binding, its enforcement is limited after Russia’s expulsion from the Council of Europe and Moscow’s pledge to disregard the court’s decision.
• Families of MH17 victims described the judgment as a significant milestone in their 11-year quest for accountability.
• Nearly 10,000 individual complaints against Russia remain pending before the ECHR, and Kyiv has additional inter-state cases still under review.