Russia Against Hague Trial for Syria

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday slammed the request by a few dozen countries that the Syria crisis be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC). “We believe the initiative is untimely and counterproductive for the resolution of the priority task, which is to immediately stop bloodshed in Syria,” the ministry said, adding that the initiative would only “complicate the search for ways to politically and diplomatically settle the Syrian conflict.” In a letter on Monday, over 50 countries led by Switzerland called on the UN Security Council to refer the Syria conflict to the ICC – a body prosecuting people for genocide and war crimes. The letter said the Security Council “must ensure accountability for the crimes that seem to have been and continue to be committed in the Syrian Arab Republic and send a clear signal to the Syrian authorities.”

http://en.ria.ru/world/20130115/178794483/Russia_Against_Hague_Trial_for_Syria.html