The prime suspects in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 are the Russian separatists who control much of eastern Ukraine, and the Russian government, which has supplied them with arms. But what are the chances that whoever was involved in the death of 298 passengers and crew would be compelled to appear in an international court or criminal trial? Russia could face a civil action in a U.N. court, which would require it to pay millions of dollars to victims and their families. If criminal charges were brought against specific separatists or Russian officials in an international court, it would be an entirely different matter. There are a number of scenarios that could play out.
