Iran has sentenced ten members of the military forces to prison for their roles in the downing of a Ukrainian airliner, according to the judiciary’s Mizan Online website on Sunday.
On January 8, 2020, Iranian soldiers shot down Ukraine International Airlines aircraft PS752 shortly after takeoff from Tehran, killing all 176 people on board. The majority were Iranians and Canadians, with many holding dual citizenship.
According to Mizan, a commander earned the harshest penalty of ten years in prison for defying orders and shooting down the plane.
According to Mizan, nine other personnel were sentenced to one to three years in prison.
The commander of a Tor M-1 surface-to-air missile system “fired two missiles” at the airliner “contrary to orders” and without obtaining authorisation, Mizan said.
It did not identify any of the accused.
Three days after the Kyiv-bound plane was shot down, the Iranian armed forces admitted there had been a “mistake”.
“Given the extent of the effects and consequences of this action, the main defendant was sentenced to the maximum penalty,” Mizan Online added on Sunday, without giving further details.
Tensions between Iran and the United States had been soaring at the time the airliner was shot down.
