ICAO – ICAO Council vote on the downing of flight MH17 (13 May 2025)

France commends the May 12th ruling by the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in the case brought by Australia and the Netherlands against Russia in the downing of flight MH17 on July 17, 2014.

In its decision, the Council found that Russia breached the prohibition contained in article 3bis of the Chicago Convention on the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight. This is the first time that the ICAO Council has gone this far in such a case, following a thorough investigation. The proceedings lead to a clear conclusion: that Russia yet again violated international law.

Ten years after this tragedy, France reaffirms its support for all actions brought before the appropriate international bodies in a quest for justice.