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The ECHR has initiated thousands of cases against Russia
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has declared admissible two complaints from Ukraine and one from the Netherlands concerning the events in Donbas, including the downing of flight MH-17 in 2014. This will affect thousands of other complaints filed against Russia.
Details. The decision demonstrates that the ECHR believes that Russia can be held accountable for violations in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions since 2014, writes Reuters.
- The decision will set in motion three more Ukrainian complaints and thousands of private cases that were put on hold until today's decision, the agency said.
- The Court found that areas of eastern Ukraine were under the control of the Russian Federation from 11 May 2014 until at least 26 January 2022. The Russian military contingent has been introduced to the east of Ukraine since April 2014, and by the end of August its large-scale expansion began, the court concluded.
- The ECtHR also found that Russia had "significant influence on the definition of the military strategy of the separatists", supplying them with weapons and other military equipment "from the very beginning of the formation of the "DNR" and "LNR" and in the following months and years."
- Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra called the decision of the ECHR "a clear signal for Russia." “The European Court of Human Rights has confirmed Russia's involvement in the downing of flight MH17. An important milestone and the first time an international court has ruled on this matter,” wrote . Hoekstra
Context. Last year, Russia ceased to be a party to the European Convention on Human Rights. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe passed a resolution on the procedure for excluding Russia on 16 March. The day before, Moscow had notified the Council of Europe of its withdrawal from the organization. Russia's participation in the ECtHR ended on September 16, 2022. Complaints about violations and crimes filed before this date will be considered.