Iranian security forces disrupt rally of relatives honoring Ukrainian plane downing in 2020
Фото: Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims
Iranian special services did not allow relatives mourning victims of the downed Ukrainian plane to hold a rally, Voice of America reports.
The plane was downed in 2020 by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also known for crimes against civilians in Iran during the 2021 protests.
The families of the dead gathered for a rally on the morning of February 3 in front of the UN office to demand justice from the Iranian government:
- They accused the authorities of obstructing the investigation into the downing of the plane,
- Families requested a meeting with Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Neda Al-Nashif.
Iranian security agents and forces dispersed the people with threats and intimidation.
The "Association of Families of Flight PS752" said "the behavior of the security forces was offensive and cruel" and that they were "ready for any harsher reaction."
امروز شنبه ۱۴ بهمن ۱۴۰۲ تعدادی از خانوادههای جانباختگان پرواز پیاس۷۵۲ در اعتراض به سفر خانم ندا النشیف، معاون کمیسریای عالی حقوق بشر سازمان ملل متحد، در مقابل دفتر این سازمان در تهران جمع شدند و با پلاکاردهایی که در دست داشتند خواستهها و اعتراضات خود را نشان دادند.
لازم به… pic.twitter.com/hqXJUiGL6K— Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims (@ps752justice) February 3, 2024
In January 2024, Ukraine, Canada, Sweden, and the United Kingdom initiated a dispute at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) against Iran for the illegal downing of Flight PS752 over Tehran in 2020, which killed 176 people.
In July 2023, four countries filed a joint application with the International Court of Justice. In September of the same year, Iran agreed to meet with all members of the International Coordination Group on the downing of Flight PS752.
However, members of the group stated that the Iranian side continued to ignore the claims. Earlier, an Iranian court sent 10 Iranian soldiers to prison for shooting down the Ukrainian plane.
Iran insists that the plane crash was caused by an air defense operator's mistake, and not by order of the country's military leadership. Ukraine disagrees and demands access to the investigation and monetary compensation.
Most of the victims were Iranians and Canadians, but 11 of them were Ukrainian citizens.
