Ukraine and Canada Statement on the Fifth Anniversary of PS752 Flight Downing by IRGC Missiles

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and the Canadian government issued separate statements on the fifth anniversary of the PS752 flight downing by IRGC missiles, emphasizing the violation of international laws by the Islamic Republic and the killing of 176 passengers. They stated that as members of the International Coordination Group for Victims, they continue to seek justice through the International Court of Justice and the International Civil Aviation Organization. Ukraine's statement also referred to Iran's military and political cooperation with Russia as an immediate threat to the region and the world, stressing the importance of accountability to prevent repeated violations of international law. The Canadian government, in its statement, commemorated the victims of the flight and urged the Islamic Republic to fully accept responsibility for its actions. On the fifth anniversary of the PS752 flight downing by IRGC missiles, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that the country will spare no effort in seeking justice and prosecuting those responsible for the incident. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's statement on Wednesday, January 8, emphasized that the Islamic Republic 'brutally violated multiple international laws during the PS752 incident.' The statement further noted that the violations included the use of weapons against a civilian aircraft in flight, failure to take practical measures to prevent the aircraft's downing, and lack of assurance for a transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances of the incident or appropriate prosecution of the accused individuals. The Canadian government also highlighted its unwavering commitment to justice and transparency and standing by the families of the victims in its statement released on Wednesday, which referenced a meeting between the Canadian Foreign Minister and another high-ranking official with the families of the victims. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry pointed out that 176 people were killed, including 11 Ukrainian citizens and citizens from Canada, Sweden, the UK, Afghanistan, and Iran, in this incident, where the IRGC fired two surface-to-air missiles at the civilian aircraft: 'A year ago, the International Coordination and Accountability Group for the victims of this flight, which includes Ukraine, Canada, Sweden, and the UK, filed a case against Iran for violating the Chicago Convention (1944) with the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO.' This case is still ongoing, and the next steps of the coordination group to hold Iran accountable within the framework of the ICAO Council will be taken in the coming months. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also stated that the coordination group submitted a note to the International Court of Justice regarding the PS752 flight downing in October 2024. The Association of Families of the Victims of Flight PS752 also issued a statement on Tuesday, the fifth anniversary of the aircraft's downing, emphasizing the role of the IRGC in the killing of 176 passengers and calling for 'the truth to be revealed and justice to be served' in the legal proceedings regarding this incident at the International Court of Justice and the International Civil Aviation Organization. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's statement further asserted that today the Islamic Republic continues to act as a 'killer' by providing military and political support to Russia in its armed aggression against Ukraine. This statement warned that the increasing cooperation between the regimes of Moscow and Tehran poses an 'immediate threat' to Europe and the Middle East: 'Impunity for past crimes encourages Iran and Russia to repeatedly commit violations of international law. For this reason, achieving justice is of utmost importance.' The PS752 flight was shot down five years ago on January 8, 2020, by IRGC missiles on a day when the Islamic Republic targeted the Ain al-Assad base in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Qassem Soleimani by the order of the then US President. Despite the dangers posed by missile attacks in the region, the Islamic Republic did not close Iranian airspace to passenger flights, and the downing of flight 752 resulted in the deaths of all 176 occupants.