Russia Appeals Aviation Agency Ruling on Downing MH17 over Ukraine in 2014

 Russia has filed an appeal to the top United Nations’ court challenging the International Civil Aviation Organization’s decision that blamed it for shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine in 2014.

Moscow’s appeal submitted to the International Court of Justice, the UN main judicial organ, contested ICAO’s decision “on all grounds, including on grounds of jurisdiction, applicable law, factual findings and fatal procedural violations,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement late Thursday.

In May, the ICAO’s Council found Russia responsible for shooting down the MH17 on July 17, 2014, with the loss of 298 lives, marking the first time the global aviation body that represents 193 member states decided a dispute between governments.

Russia has turned to the International Court of Justice to challenge the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s baseless decision on alleged Russian involvement in the 2014 Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash, and counts on the UN court’s impartiality, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"In accordance with Article 84 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, on September 18, the Russian Federation challenged the International Civil Aviation Organization’s baseless decision about Russia’s alleged involvement in the crash of the Boeing Malaysia flight MH17 in the International Court of Justice of the United Nations," the ministry said. "We hope that the UN International Court of Justice will show an utmost unbiased approach in this high-profile case."