Putin states inexpediency of establishing international tribunal on MH17 crash

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated in a telephone conversation with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Wednesday that establishing an international tribunal on Flight MH17 crash in Ukraine is inexpedient.

“The Russian president confirmed that Moscow’s position on inexpediency of establishing an international tribunal remains unchanged,” the Kremlin press service said. “It was also stressed that many questions still remain to the investigation, including to collected evidence and to denying Russia access to significant part in the process [of the investigation]. The Russian side stressed readiness for close cooperation with the aim of finding causes and circumstances of this tragedy,” the press service added.

Putin also stressed that it is necessary to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 2166 adopted on 21 July 2014 and put forward by Russia that calls for ensuring comprehensive, thorough and independent investigation of MH17 crash. “The sides exchanged opinions on experts’ work in the framework of preparing a new UN Security Council resolution on this matter,” the press service continued. “Putin noted that the draft resolution put forward by Russia is aimed at coordinating with the tasks outlined in Resolution 2166. Regret was expressed in connection with the fact that countries calling for establishing an international tribunal on Malaysia Airlines plane crash, did not support this compromise draft [resolution],” the Kremlin added.