Families of victims of the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 which was shot down in 2014 have launched a lawsuit against Russia and its President, Vladimir Putin.
The legal action, filed in the European Court of Human Rights, is seeking almost nine million euros in compensation for each passenger killed.
The claim is reportedly based on the passengers’ right to life.
In all, 33 next of kin, from Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia are suing the Russian state and its leader.
US-based aviation lawyer, Jerry Skinner, who is leading the case, told News.com.au it was difficult for the families to live with the knowledge that it was “a crime”.
Last year, Dutch investigators concluded the jet was shot down in 2014 by a Russian-made Buk missile over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 on board, most of whom were from the Netherlands.
The flight was en route to Kuala Lumpar from Amsterdam at the time.
The West and Ukraine blame Russian-backed rebels for the crash but Moscow accuses Ukranian forces.
“The Russians don’t have any facts for blaming Ukraine, We have facts, photographs, memorandums, tonnes of stuff” Jerry Skinner said.
He said they were waiting to hear from the European court if the case had been accepted.
The Kremlin said it was unaware of the claim, the Interfax news agency reported, but a senator with Putin’s party is quoted in state media as saying it was “legally nonsensical and has no chance”.
*euronews, AGENCY*
