Russia's Putin criticises calls for UN tribunal on downing of MH17 airliner

Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticised the idea of setting up a UN tribunal over the MH17 crash, saying such measures were premature. PHOTO: REUTERS

MOSCOW (REUTERS)- Russian President Vladimir Putin told the Dutch prime minister on Thursday that calls for setting up an international tribunal to prosecute those suspected of bringing down a Malaysian passenger airliner over Ukraine were counterproductive.

The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin also told Prime Minister Mark Rutte in a phone call, on the eve of the first anniversary of the incident in which all 298 aboard were killed, that such proposals were premature.

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