Russia has exercised its veto at the UN Security Council to block a move to set up an international criminal tribunal into the MH17 disaster.
Russia was the only country in the council to veto the resolution, which had 11 countries vote in favour of the move. Angola, China and Venezuela abstained.
Responding to the veto, US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said, “It is tragic that Russia has used the privilege entrusted to it in order to advance international peace and security ... to frustrate international peace and security”.
“But let us be clear,” she added, “today’s veto cannot and will not deny the victims and their families justice”.
The veto was also widely criticised by Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop who said it was “an affront to the memory of the 298 victims of MH17 and their families and friends”. “The veto only compounds the atrocity,” she said. “Only one hand was raised in opposition, but a veto should never be allowed to deny justice.”
Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said it was “incomprehensible that a member of the Security Council obstructs justice in a tragedy that has affected so many”. “Impunity will give a very dangerous signal," he said, adding “we will very quickly agree on the next step… I assure you we haven’t lost time”.
Russia meanwhile insisted it was “ready to co-operate in the conduct of a full, independent and objective investigation ... to identify those guilty and to punish them”, but said it had been a victim of “propaganda in the media”.