Russian MH17 hacking raising questions

Any Russian hacking of the MH17 crash investigation is "unacceptable", Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne warns.

Part of the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

Marise Payne says reports of Russian hacking raises doubts about it wanting to solve the MH17 crash. Source: AAP

Russia's alleged hacking of the MH17 crash investigation raises serious questions about whether it wants the cause of the disaster revealed, Australia says.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne also says Russia's alleged hacking of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is undermining global trust in controlling banned weapons.

British and Dutch authorities have accused Russian agents of trying to access files relating to the investigation of the downing of the Malaysia Airlines flight, which killed 38 Australians.

"These attributions raise questions about Russia's credibility in wanting to genuinely resolve the issues surrounding what happened to Flight MH17," Senator Payne said in a statement on Friday.

"Any actions intended to compromise or undermine the integrity of the ... investigation into the destruction of Flight MH17, which resulted in the death of all aboard the flight, are unacceptable."

The passenger jet was shot down by a Soviet-made missile over rebel-held eastern Ukraine in July 2014, killing all 298 people aboard.

Australia on Thursday condemned Russia for a pattern of malicious cyber activity including four attacks on political, business, media and sporting institutions worldwide.

"Australia joins other nations in calling on Russia to strongly affirm its commitment to acting as a reliable party to the investigation and subsequent resolution of the matter," Senator Payne said.

"The events of the last 48 hours demonstrate the resolve of the international community - including Australia - to uphold the international rules-based order in the online world, just as we do elsewhere."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he welcomed the UK and the Netherlands joining Australia in slamming Russia's behaviour.

"When you've got countries acting contrary to the international rules of law, the international community has got to call it out and that's what we've done," Mr Morrison told reporters in Tasmania.

"That's how you make the world safer - when we act together to call out this sort of behaviour. It's not on."


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Source: AAP


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