Canada marks 4 years since downing of Ukrainian airliner

TRENTON, Canada

Canadian politicians and relatives of the dead held a solemn ceremony Monday to mark four years since Ukrainian International Airlines Flight PS752 was blown out of the sky shortly after takeoff from Imam Khomeini International Airport in the Iranian capital Tehran.

“Exactly four years ago today, the downing of Flight PS752 by the Islamic Republic of Iran shocked the world,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was at the ceremony along with several of his Cabinet ministers, said in a statement released before the event.

“We continue to fight for justice and accountability for families as members of the International Coordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752.”

This, he said, is in addition to taking Iran to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) this past summer.

Iran has admitted that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accidently downed the Ukrainian aircraft on Jan. 8, 2020, killing everyone on board, including nine crew and 167 passengers.

The victims included 55 Canadians and 30 permanent residents of the country. Despite Iran’s admission, the families are still waiting for Tehran’s apology and compensation.

Trudeau, standing in front of a wall of photos of the victims, said at the ceremony that the assembled families were to be commended in their efforts “to keep the memories of your loved ones alive.”

He used the occasion to announce the next move to hold Iran to account.

“Today, we are announcing our next step in holding the Islamic Republic of Iran accountable for violating international law by jointly filing our case before the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council pursuant to Article 84 of the Chicago Convention,” he said. “This is an important step in our commitment to ensuring that the families of the victims impacted by this tragedy get the justice they deserve.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said at the ceremony that Canada “will not allow Iran to escape justice.”

There were rallies called “Justice Prevails” in 12 major Canadian cities and more than 24 countries to mark the anniversary.​​​​​​​

Monday’s commemoration was held in Richmond Hill near Toronto.