Families, some crying or choking back tears, took names of brothers, sisters, parents, grandchildren, grandparents, nieces and nephews in an ordeal of lives lost that lasted half an hour.
“It is a dark day,” said Evert van Zijtveld, who lost his daughter and son, 19-year-old Frederik and 18-year-old Robert-January, along with their grandparents.
“What is very important is that we mentioned the names of loved ones… and it is very important that we remember them,” he said.
A global investigation concluded that the Buk missile machine that brought down MH17 belonged to the Russian 53rd Anti-Airplane Missile Brigade and was fired from ranges controlled by pro-Moscow separatists. The investigation concluded that the missile launcher was sent from the Russian military base in Ukraine to the city of Kursk and later returned there and shot down the plane.
Moscow has repeatedly denied responsibility. A in 2022 dutch courtroom Two Russians and a Ukrainian separatist were convicted in absentia for their roles in downing the plane.
“Although the court formally found Russian puppets guilty, the Kremlin government led by Putin and his allies is behind this crime,” Ukraine’s Common Group of Staff said in a comment published on Facebook.
Memorial services were held in the Netherlands, Australia and at conflict sites in the Russian-controlled part of the Donetsk pocket on Wednesday as fighting in Ukraine intensified.
Dutch King Willem-Alexander, politicians and diplomats were joined by a large number of members of the public at a memorial in the Netherlands at Schiphol, the airport where the Kuala Lumpur-bound Boeing 777 took off on 17 July 2014.
Australian Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus represented his country at the Dutch memorial site, where 298 trees commemorate each victim.
“Today we remain steadfast in our determination to ensure truth, justice and accountability for victims and their loved ones,” Dreyfus said.
Many houses had sunflowers that had grown at the site of the conflict, and later placed them on wood. The flags of the countries whose voters lost were later hung at half mast in a field of blooming sunflowers.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schuof pledged to continue the fight to convict those responsible.
“And I also know this: Justice takes time,” he said. “But we have time. And patience. And perseverance. “This is my message to the guilty parties, and my promise to you.”
In Australia the ceremony was held at Parliament House in Canberra.
“I don’t think anyone intended to shoot down a passenger plane. So in that sense, I’m sad that the (Ukraine) war continues,” Paul Safeguard told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. His parents, Roger and Jill Safeguard, were among the 38 Australian voters and permanent citizens killed.
The son said, “But I think a lot of families would really have liked an acknowledgment that what happened was wrong and that Russia should not have started the war.”
Russia is still being sued under the global regulation in the ECU Court of Human Rights through the Netherlands and during the World Civil Aviation Group Council through Australia and the Netherlands, or ICAOOn its alleged role in bringing me ill MH17.
Australian International Minister Penny Wong told media in Canberra on Wednesday that she was “surprised” that Russia withdrew from the ICAO lawsuits in June.
“The case will continue and we will not waver in our commitment to hold Russia accountable,” Wong told the archive.
At the conflict site in the village of Hrabov, many local residents brought plants, stuffed animals or even a stylized aircraft to a small memorial stone set in the field where one of the most important wreckage was found . Some struggled to hold back tears as they recalled the explosion, which left windows in their homes shattered and bodies falling from the sky. “It hurts,” one girl said. “I feel sorry for the people.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Wong’s comments, reiterating that Moscow’s position on the subject is “well known.” He said: “No arguments from the Russian side were taken into account, we did not participate in the investigation, and therefore our attitude towards these findings is well known.”
196 patients lived in the Netherlands, 38 were from Australia. Patients also came from Malaysia, Indonesia, UK, Belgium, Germany, Philippines, Canada, New Zealand, Vietnam, Israel, Italy, Romania, USA and South Africa.
Malaysia also reiterated its commitment to seek justice and secure those responsible for the tragedy.
“The Government of Malaysia is determined that truth, justice and accountability must be pursued in this process,” the delivery ministry said in a comment.
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McGuirk reported from Melbourne, Australia.
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