Russian Federation vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Wednesday (Jul 29) that sought to set up a special tribunal to try those responsible for shooting down flight MH17 over Ukraine.
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“Efforts to deny justice only intensify the pain of the victims’ families, who have already endured more than any of us can fathom”, she said “It is the effect of Russia’s veto today”.
Malaysia last month circulated a draft resolution to form the tribunal.
US envoy, Samantha Power, was also displeased with the outcome, saying that “no veto will stand in the way of this heinous crime being investigated and prosecuted”.
The rebels deny these accusations, and Moscow has repeatedly warning against putting blame on anyone before the investigation into the crash has been completed.
The Kremlin quoted Putin as saying a tribunal would be “inexpedient” because Russian Federation still has “a lot of questions” about the investigation to which it had little access.
“Malaysia did include some language from our draft in their draft text but it did not go to the core of our concern, they kept insisting on the need to establish right now an worldwide criminal court”, Russian United Nations Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told Reuters on Friday.
“This, in our view, indicates the fact that political purposes were more important for them than practical objectives”. “Impunity will give a very risky signal”, he said, adding “we will very quickly agree on the next step…”
Russia, however, immediately supported an independent investigation and contributed satellite imagery and other data to support the investigation into the crash.
Speaking at a joint media conference after the session adjourned, Dutch Foreign Minister Albert Koenders said the veto would not weaken their resolve to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“I find it incomprehensible that a member of the Security Council obstructs justice in a tragedy that has affected so many”.
Led by the Dutch, those countries are conducting a criminal inquiry in the downing of MH17. The Dutch Safety Board’s final report is expected in October 2015.
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Mr Putin and senior Russian diplomats made clear Russia was to use its veto to block the creation of a tribunal at a United Nations Security Council meeting on Wednesday evening.
