Australia and the Netherlands will take joint legal action against Russia over the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17.

Attorney-General Michaelia Cash told Perth LIVE, it’s an important day for the families of the 298 victims – including 38 Australians.

“This marks a major step forward in what we have been wanting – it’s a fight for truth, justice and accountability for the tragedy,” she told Oliver Peterson.

“The Australian Government had always said, we would not exclude any legal options, in the pursuit of justice and accountability and now we have formally initiated those legal proceedings.”

MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine in July 2014.

Press PLAY to hear more from the Attorney-General’s interview with Oliver Peterson

Australia and the Netherlands say there is overwhelming evidence the plane was struck by a Russian BUK missile, driven from Russia into eastern Ukraine.

“We have pursued – in good faith – trilateral negotiations with Russia, on state responsibility for the downing of MH17,” Senator Cash said.

“It was unfortunately Russia’s unilateral decision to withdraw from these negotiations in October 2020.

“It is our opinion, and the opinion of the Netherlands, it is completely unacceptable that Russia has refused to return to negotiations.”

The action against Russia will take place at the International Civil Aviation Organization – a specialist agency within the United Nations.