Australia places sanctions on people involved in Russian downing of MH17 flight

Sanctions have been placed on people involved in the Russian downing of flight MH17, which killed 298 people, including 38 Australians in Ukraine 2014.

The Australian government imposed financial sanctions and travel bans on those who were convicted by the District Court of the Hague in November 2022 of murdering all on board.

Foreign Affairs minister Penny Wong confirmed Sergey Dubinskiy and Leonid Kharchenko have been sanctioned after The Hague found them guilty.

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"The third convicted perpetrator Igor Girkin, was sanctioned by Australia in 2014 for supporting separatist activity in eastern Ukraine," Wong's office said in a statement.

"Australia has also sanctioned Sergey Muchkaev, a Colonel with the Russian Armed Forces who in July 2014 was the Commander of the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, which supplied the Buk-TELAR that downed Flight MH17."

Wong said the three new sanctions were on people who "actively supported actions and policies that threatened the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine".

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"These sanctions demonstrate the Australian Government's ongoing commitment to hold to account those responsible for the downing of Flight MH17.

"Our thoughts remain with those who lost their lives, their families and loved ones."

Australia worked with the Netherlands and European Union to coordinate the sanctions.

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