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German Victims' Families to Sue Ukraine Over Downing of MH17

The relatives of three Germans killed in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 are suing Ukraine’s government.
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BERLIN - The relatives of three Germans killed in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 are suing Ukraine’s government, a lawyer for the families said Monday. "Ukraine neglected its responsibility to guarantee the safety of the airspace over its territory, it would have been an easy measure,” lawyer Elmar Giemulla told NBC News. Nearly 300 people were killed when the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was shot down near the Ukraine-Russia border on July 17.

Giemulla is representing the families of 23-year old Olga Ioppa, her 24-year-old fiancée Andre Anghel and another victim whose family has asked not to be identified. He will demand 1 million euros ($1.29 million) per victim when he begins legal proceedings at the European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, within the next two weeks. All three families have already received an initial payment of 5,000 euros ($6,429) as compensation from the airline.

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- Andy Eckardt