Ukrainian Delegation in Tehran: We Will Not Accept Money in Exchange for Concealing the Truth

The head of the Ukrainian delegation, which traveled to Tehran for the second round of negotiations regarding the case of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 being shot down by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) missiles, told Radio Farda that they have told Iranian officials they will under no circumstances accept money in exchange for concealing the truth.

According to Ukrainian diplomats, Ukraine’s goal in the second round of negotiations with Iran regarding Flight 752 was to examine various technical, military, and criminal issues, as well as to employ international legal documents to clarify the details of the downing of the Ukrainian aircraft.

On Monday, October 19, military and technical working groups held consultations on this matter, and on Tuesday morning, the judicial working group held a session. The results of these consultations were presented during a joint public session of the two delegations led by Yevhenii Yenin and Mohsen Baharvand, deputies of the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Iran.

In this regard, Yevhenii Yenin told Radio Farda: “We explicitly told the Iranian side that our main goal is not to receive compensation, but to reach the truth. Under no circumstances will we accept money in exchange for concealing the truth. First, we must know the truth, and then, depending on the details of the events that led to the downing of the Ukrainian aircraft, we will calculate compensation.”

Mr. Yenin also emphasized that this objective is not only his as head of the Ukrainian delegation, but the families of the victims also have this demand.

Some relatives of the victims of Flight 752 gathered on Tuesday in front of the Institute for Political and International Studies of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the location of the negotiations, demanding justice and seeking to meet with the Ukrainian delegation.

Mohsen Baharvand, head of the Iranian negotiators, who met with the families of Ukrainian victims in Tehran on Tuesday, rejected accusations of lying, saying that clarifying ambiguities about the downing of the Ukrainian aircraft was outside his area of authority.

This Iranian deputy foreign minister also reiterated the claim that Flight 752 was hit as a result of “human error” and that the Islamic Republic is trying to convince the Ukrainian side of this as well.

Canada and Ukraine have repeatedly said they do not accept this narrative.

Yevhenii Yenin, head of the Ukrainian delegation, expressed hope at the end of negotiations in Tehran that Iran’s final report would be completed in accordance with international regulations.

He also welcomed Tehran’s willingness to pay equal compensation to all victims of this accident, regardless of their nationality.

On Tuesday, Iran’s government spokesperson announced that compensation to the families of victims of the Ukrainian aircraft downing will be paid based on fair international practices and conventions without discrimination.

Ali Rabiei also announced the separation of the criminal aspects of this case from civil and compensation aspects, adding that the military prosecutor’s office is investigating, and upon completion of the investigation, an indictment will be issued and referred to the military court.

Radio Farda sources among the Ukrainian negotiators say Iran’s position during the second round of negotiations differed from its approach in previous months, and if all promises are implemented, issues surrounding this case will be resolved through dialogue.

After the Ukrainian delegation returns to Kyiv, the parties will exchange documents containing their understanding of the results of the negotiations, and these documents will serve as the legal basis for continuing negotiations. The next round of these negotiations will take place in one month with the participation of other relevant countries.

The Ukrainian aircraft with 176 passengers was shot down on January 8, 2020 (December 29, 1398) by two air defense missiles of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and all Iranian and non-Iranian passengers were killed.

Source: Radio Farda