Russian Federation vetoes UN tribunal into downing of MH17

Russia, on Wednesday, vetoed a draft United Nations Security Council resolution establishing an global tribunal that will investigate the downing of a Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 past year.

Eleven UN Security Council (UNSC) members on Wednesday voted in support of the Malaysia-proposed draft resolution, with Angola, Venezuela and China abstaining, RT news reported.

It crashed in Ukrainian territory held by Russian-backed separatists.

Moscow has blamed the government in Kyiv for the disaster. Putin also regretted that Russia’s own draft resolution, which demands justice for the victims but does not establish a tribunal, did not win the United Nations Security Council’s backing.

Rutte’s office said he had telephoned Putin, ahead of the vote in New York, to seek his backing for setting up an worldwide tribunal to try the as-yet unidentified suspects behind the downing of the Malaysia Airlines jet that killed 298 people in July of previous year.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that according to diplomatic observers, few of the 10 non-permanent members might oppose the establishment of the tribunal under the influence of Russian Federation. He asked how it would be able to resist what he called an “aggressive backdrop of propaganda in the media”.

She blasted Russia’s veto as “an affront to the memory of the 298 victims of MH17 and their families and friends”.

“The victims of this tragedy and their families deserve better”, he said.

“Russia is ready to resume this work with experts and at any other level, so, let’s from tomorrow move forward with this type of work”, the Moscow envoy said. In a statement the party leader, Bill Shorten, and deputy leader, Tanya Plibersek, said they condemned Russia’s decision, and those responsible must be brought to account.

He said Russian investigators had been denied equal access to the crash site and criticized what he said would have been criminal prosecution carried out “in a closed fashion”.

Failure of a body charged with upholding global peace and security on such an issue was a “serious indictment”.

“It is the effect of Russia’s veto today”. “The Russian president underscored the need to strictly abide by UN Security Council resolution 2166 adopted at Russia’s initiative on July 21, 2014 and aimed at ensuring a comprehensive, careful, and independent investigation”, it said.