WIREDGOV

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has paid tribute to the victims on the fifth anniversary of the downing of flight MH17.

On the fifth anniversary of the shooting down of flight MH17, the Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has paid tribute to the victims, and announced that the UK will provide financial support to the specialist criminal court in the Hague.

The UK continues to offer its support to the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) and the Dutch National Prosecutor after their recent decision to charge four suspects with shooting down MH17 and the murder of the 298 people on board. The government will provide financial support for the establishment of the specialist criminal court at the Hague which will hear the trial of the four suspects.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:

A terrible tragedy took place five years ago today when flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine. 298 innocent people, including 10 British people, lost their lives. I offer my deepest condolences to the families and friends of all those who died.

I support the efforts of the Joint Investigation Team and the Dutch authorities to deliver justice for those who died. This is why we are making a financial contribution of £100,000 to the establishment of the specialist criminal court in the Hague to help ensure that the families and friends of the victims receive answers, and that those responsible are held to account for this appalling crime.

We continue to support Australia and the Netherlands in their call on the Russian government to accept state responsibility for the downing of flight MH17. It is high time Russia cooperated fully with the prosecution and, in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 2166, provided any assistance requested.

Further information

• Follow the Foreign Secretary on Twitter @Jeremy_Hunt and Facebook
• Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice and Facebook
• Follow the Foreign Office on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn

Media enquiries

For journalists