Ukrainian Boeing shot down in Iran: Ten Iranian soldiers sentenced to prison

The plane was shot down near Tehran more than three years ago. Ten Iranian soldiers have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to ten years for their role in the January 2020 crash of a Ukrainian Boeing, which killed 176 people.

The first defendant, the commander of the Tor M-1 defense system, was sentenced to ten years in prison for defying orders from his superiors to shoot down the plane, and nine other soldiers were sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to three years. prison said Online balance.

The source added that the commander of the defense system “fired two missiles at the plane operating on flight PS752, contrary to the orders of the command center and without obtaining permission and contrary to the instructions.” This is the “maximum punishment, given the extent of the effects and consequences of his actions,” according to Mizan Online.

The judiciary did not provide details of the identities of the convicts, including four defense system officials, an air defense base commander, or an officer from the control center. Those convicted can still appeal.

Air defenses are on high alert

On January 8, 2020, this plane of Ukraine International Airlines connecting Tehran and Kiev was shot down by the Iranian Armed Forces with two missiles, killing all 176 people on board, the majority of whom were Iranians and Canadians, and many more. They are bisexual. Eleven Ukrainians were also killed.

On the night of the tragedy, Iran’s air defenses were on high alert, fearing an American attack: the Islamic Republic had just attacked a base used by the US military in Iraq in retaliation for the removal five days earlier, in a US raid in Baghdad and expected General Qassem Soleimani, the architect of the regional strategy of Iran and Tehran response from Washington.

After two days of denials, Iran’s armed forces finally admitted responsibility for the tragedy, citing “human error”. And in November 2021, the judiciary announced the opening of the trial of ten soldiers “of various ranks” in Tehran for their involvement in the case. The Iranian judiciary had indicated at the time that “103 people [avaient] He filed a complaint with the Public Prosecution “demanding” an impartial investigation (…) to identify and prosecute those responsible. »

Compensation for families

The late recognition by the authorities caused a crisis of confidence in Iranian officials. The Boeing tragedy, which had many students on board, also sparked indignation and anger in Iran, especially among university youth.

In early 2022, Iran said it began compensating some of the families of the victims by paying them “a sum of $150,000” each, and promised to compensate others.

In December of the same year, a group of four countries, led by Canada, announced that they had asked Tehran to submit to binding arbitration to “hold Iran responsible” for the incident. Canada, Ukraine, Sweden and the United Kingdom relied on the 1971 Montreal Convention, which regulates offenses against civil aviation, to request such arbitration.