Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that establishing an international tribunal that could lead to charges in the apparent shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine would be counterproductive.
The Kremlin issued a statement Thursday saying that Putin made his comments in a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands.
During the call Putin “explained the Russian position regarding the premature and counterproductive nature” of the initiative by a number of countries, including the Netherlands.
The majority of the 298 people killed on July 17, 2014, when the plane was hit over eastern Ukraine, were Dutch citizens.
The Netherlands, along with Malaysia, Australia, Belgium, and Ukraine have called for the creation of an international tribunal to probe the loss of flight MH17 and hold those responsible accountable.
Dutch investigators leading an international investigation into the downing of the Amsterdam-Kuala Lumpur flight are expected to release a final report in October.
Reportedly, the ongoing probe points to a surface-to-air missile having been fired from a village under Russia-backed separatist control in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine and many in the West have leveled the same accusation, but Russia and the rebels deny any responsibility and have instead claimed the airliner was downed by a Ukrainian missile.
