Russia Could Face Legal Action Over The Shootdown

The foreign ministers of several countries may call for the formation of an international tribunal to look into the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine last year, according to the IB Times.

The Australian Associated Press reports that Julie Bishop, the foreign minister of Australia, is expected to meet with the foreign ministers of Malaysia, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Ukraine during the UN general assembly summit Tuesday. The meeting is expected to result in a call for a tribunal much like the one that resulted in the prosecution of Libyan suspects accused of the 1998 bombing a Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland.

Parts possibly from a Russian missile system were recently found at the site where the plane impacted terrain. It is the first hard evidence that the plane was shot down.

There were 298 people on board the airplane when it went down in rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014. Ukrainian and some western nations have claimed that there is evidence that the plane was struck by a missile fired by separatists loyal to Moscow.

Russia used its veto power in the UN general assembly to block a resolution to form such a tribunal in July. Moscow has denied all allegations related to the flight.

FMI: www.un.org/en