Iran refuses to negotiate compensation for downed plane, Ukraine’s foreign ministry says
Iran continues to avoid its international legal responsibilities and refuses to negotiate the payment of compensation for the destruction of Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS752, which was downed by an Iranian anti-aircraft missile in early 2020, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Jan. 6.
The ministry published a joint statement from the International Coordination and Response Group (Canada, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Ukraine) marking two years since the flight was shot down minutes after taking off from a Tehran airport.
The statement notes that most recently, the Coordination Group asked Iran to commit to engaging in negotiations with the Group by Jan. 5, 2022.
“Unfortunately, on Dec. 27, 2021, we received an unequivocal response from Iran that it does not see a need to negotiate with the Group,” the statement reads.
“After initially agreeing to engage with the Group during our first round of negotiations held on July 30, 2020, Iran is now categorically rejecting any further negotiations with the Group related to our collective demand for compensation.”
“Despite our best efforts over the past two years and multiple attempts to resolve this matter through negotiations, the Coordination Group has determined that further attempts to negotiate with Iran on compensation for the destruction of Flight PS752 at this time are futile,” the Group said in the statement.
The Coordination Group said it would now focus on establishing which further actions to take to resolve this matter in accordance with international law.
“We remain united in our commitment to hold Iran accountable for the actions and omissions of its civil and military officials that led to the illegal downing of Flight PS752 by ensuring that Iran makes full reparations for its breaches of international law,” the Group stated.
PS752 downing near Tehran
Kyiv-bound passenger flight PS752, a Boeing 737 operated by Ukraine International Airlines, was shot down in Iran on Jan. 8, 2020, shortly after taking off from Tehran International Airport.
All 176 people on board, including 11 Ukrainian nationals – nine crew and two passengers – were killed.
Most of the victims were citizens of Iran and Canada.
Three days later, Iran officially admitted that the Ukrainian aircraft had been shot down as a result of unintentional “human error.”
Data from the aircraft’s flight recorders released in July 2020 confirmed that the aircraft had been destroyed after being hit by two anti-aircraft missiles.
According to the report, the first missile caused significant damage to the aircraft, but its engines remained running and pilots attempted to maintain control of the flight. However, the second missile’s impact resulted in the plane’s destruction.
Iran insists that the plane shoot-down was purely a mistake by an air defense controller.
Ukraine has rejected Iran’s claims and demanded admission to the investigation, and reparations.
Iranian authorities have charged 10 Iranian officials with being responsible for PS752’s downing. However, Tehran has refused to disclose their names and positions.
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