The Association of Families of Flight PS752 that was shot down by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) missiles last year, released a statement pointing out the Islamic Republic’s attempts to take over the anniversary of the victims and emphasized: “The Murderer cannot also be the mourner.” The added: In the past year, the murderers neither explained anything nor delivered a culprit.

January 8 is the anniversary of the shooting down of the Ukrainian flight PS752 in which 176 people were killed. The Ukraine International plane was shot down by IRGC missiles minutes after taking off from Tehran International Airport.

The Association of Families of Flight PS752 also mentions the “mental torture” and “threats” against the families by the regime of Iran and goes on to say: “The Islamic Republic is trying to take over the anniversary ceremony and turn it into a regime event. They are also making a lot of effort to force the families to accept compensation and get a signature.”

The association emphasizes that “the families are vigilant and will not sign any documents,” adding: “The Islamic Republic has no right to hold any ceremony for the victims. Instead, just supply the murderers to the people and the international community and explain why they committed such a crime.”

Previously, Javad Soleimani, the husband of one of the victims, Elnaz Nabiei, had reported increased IRGC pressure on the families.

“We the families of the Ukrainian plane victims have not been able to mourn our loved ones yet, the IRGC is now contacting the families using the anniversary as an excuse,” Soleimani said.

He also warned that the Supreme Council of National Security of the Islamic Republic should not task the “IRGC, meaning the murderers” of the Ukrainian plane passengers with contacting the families of the victims.

In a gathering of the families at the military court last Monday, the father of Mariam Malek once again stated that the commander of IRGC Aerospace Amir Ali Hajizadeh and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif are murderers and demanded the removal and trial of all the culprits of the incident.

He referred to Hajizadeh as a murderer who is preventing the clarification of the case.

“How can a bunch of murderers be involved in the investigation? How can a knife cut its own handle? Will the commander of Aerospace who has the blood of our children on his hand allow a real investigation?” he asked.

Last week, the Canadian government in its most recent report said the Iranian regime is not seriously investigating the shooting down of the passenger plane, and there are many unanswered questions left.