Three individuals who were involved in the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 have been hit with targeted financial sanctions and travel bans as a result of the actions taken by the Australian government.
Australia has been working closely with the Netherlands and the European Union to coordinate sanctions against those persons who were found guilty by the District Court of The Hague in November 2022 for their role in shooting down of Flight MH17 and the murder of all 298 people who were on board. Australia’s efforts have been directed toward those individuals who were convicted for their part in the killing of all 298 people who were on board.
Both Sergey Dubinsky and Leonid Kharchenko, who were both convicted guilty by the District Court of The Hague, are the targets of the sanctions that were announced today. Igor Girkin, the third individual to be found guilty of committing the crime, was blacklisted by Australia in 2014 for his support of separatist action in eastern Ukraine.
Australia has also placed sanctions against Sergey Muchkaev, a Colonel in the Russian Armed Forces. Michael served as the Commander of the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade in July 2014, the brigade that delivered the Buk-TELAR that brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. Australia placed these sanctions against Muchkaev.
The three individuals who have been sanctioned today actively supported actions and policies that posed a threat to the sovereignty as well as territorial integrity of Ukraine. At the time of the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, they were either separatist leaders within the so-called “People’s Republic of Donetsk” or members of the Russian Armed Forces.
These sanctions indicate the ongoing determination of the Australian government to hold those responsible for the shooting down of Flight MH17 accountable for their actions.
Australia remains unwavering in its resolve to seek truth, justice, and responsibility for the victims of the downing of Flight MH17, and we are working closely with our allies to achieve this goal. The Netherlands is a key partner in this effort. We continue to pursue all routes accessible to us.
