What's happened
On July 9, 2025, the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Russia in four cases brought by Ukraine and the Netherlands, marking the first time an international court has held Russia accountable for human rights abuses in Ukraine. The court found violations including murder, torture, and the downing of Flight MH17.
What's behind the headline?
Key Findings
- The ECHR unanimously concluded that Russian forces breached international humanitarian law.
- The court's ruling included findings of extrajudicial killings, torture, and the unlawful transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia.
Implications
- This ruling is largely symbolic, as Russia has been expelled from the Council of Europe and has stated it will not comply with the court's decisions.
- The ECHR's decisions may pave the way for further legal actions against Russia, as Ukraine has numerous other cases pending.
Future Outlook
- The court's ruling could influence international perceptions of Russia's actions in Ukraine and may bolster calls for reparations and accountability.
- Families of MH17 victims view this as a crucial step towards justice, although the likelihood of receiving compensation remains low due to Russia's expulsion from the Council of Europe.
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the ECHR's ruling is historic as it marks the first time an international court has held Russia accountable for human rights abuses in Ukraine. The court found that Russian forces committed serious violations, including the downing of Flight MH17, which killed 298 people. AP News highlighted that the ruling is largely symbolic since Russia has stated it will ignore the court's decisions. The Moscow Times reported that the ECHR ordered Russia to return unlawfully detained civilians, emphasizing the court's role in addressing human rights violations despite Russia's expulsion from the Council of Europe. Families of MH17 victims, as noted by the NY Post, see the ruling as a significant milestone in their quest for justice, reinforcing the importance of accountability in international law.
How we got here
The cases stem from allegations of human rights violations by Russian forces in Ukraine since 2014, including the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. The ECHR's ruling is significant as it is the first international acknowledgment of Russia's culpability in these matters since the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Go deeper
- What are the implications of the ECHR ruling?
- How has Russia responded to the court's decision?
- What other cases are pending against Russia in the ECHR?
Common question
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What Did the ECHR Rule Against Russia on July 9, 2025?
On July 9, 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) made significant rulings against Russia in cases brought by Ukraine and the Netherlands. These decisions address serious human rights violations, including the tragic downing of Flight MH17. This page explores the implications of these rulings, the response from Russia, and what it means for victims' families seeking justice.
More on these topics
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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The European Court of Human Rights, frequently referred to as the Strasbourg Court, is a supranational or international court established by the European Convention on Human Rights.
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Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) was a scheduled passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur that was shot down by Russian-backed forces with a Buk 9M38 surface-to-air missile on 17 July 2014, while flying over eastern Ukraine. All 283 passeng
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The Netherlands, informally Holland, is a country primarily located in Western Europe and partly in the Caribbean, forming the largest constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
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Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy is a Ukrainian politician, actor and comedian who is the 6th and current president of Ukraine, serving since May 2019.
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The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.