MH17 tribunal: NZ to face first UN Security Council hurdle

Russian Federation has blocked the adoption of the UN Security Council’s draft resolution proposed by Malaysia to set up an global criminal tribunal to investigate the downing of Malaysia Airlines MH17 in eastern Ukraine in July 2014.

The foreign ministers of the Netherlands, Australia and Ukraine attended the meeting over the crash that killed all 298 people on board Flight MH17.

“Mr Putin said that Russian Federation continues to view the establishment of such a tribunal as not being the best course of action, noting that many questions remain regarding the investigation, including with respect to the evidence collected so far, and to Russia’s not being allowed to participate in much of the investigation”, the Kremlin said in readout of the conversation posted on its website.

Russia has denied any involvement in the shooting down of the airliner, despite reports a Dutch-led investigation to be released in October will support claims Russian-backed separatists were responsible.

Malaysia, the Netherlands, Australia, Ukraine and Belgium have called for such a tribunal with a vote set for around 7am.

“But let us be clear”, she added, “today’s veto cannot and will not deny the victims and their families justice”.

Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, this week said the nation would vote against any such resolution.

Eleven nations on the 15-member council are in favour of the tribunal.

“We will be bitterly disappointed if Russian Federation were to use the veto”.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who had spent the previous 24 hours at the UN headquarters in a bid to shore up support for the resolution, said it was “inconceivable that the Security Council would now walk away from holding to account those who brought down a commercial aeroplane”.

Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the UN said: “No veto will stand in the way of this heinous crime being investigated and prosecuted”.

A Dutch Safety Board preliminary report concluded that the aircraft fell apart in midair after being hit by numerous high-energy objects.

Two weeks ago footage emerged showing the moment rebels arrived at the crash site in eastern Ukraine and are seen realising that the downed plane was civilian, not military.

A separate inquiry by the Dutch national prosecutor’s office aims to decide who is responsible.