Russia, China veto UN proposal to refer Syrian crisis to International Criminal Court

Russia and China have interdicted the UN proposal of referring the crisis in Syria to the International Criminal Court, discounting the support in favour of the resolution of 65 other countries.

Washington vehemently reviled this move of Moscow and Beijing, with Samantha Power, US ambassador, adding that the people of Syria would not see the lights of justice as the vetoes have prevented the victims of atrocities from testifying at The Hague.

According to the Guardian, 13 of the Security Council's 15 members voted for the resolution. Russia and China both cast their vetoes, which are restricted to the five permanent members.

Russia had vetoed the Security Council resolution on Syria for the fourth time and had been steady in its support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his government.

Reports have further revealed that Vitaly Churkin, Russia's UN ambassador, had earlier dismissed the vote as a "publicity stunt" and warned that if the resolution had passed it would hinder efforts to end the country's three-year war. However, no peace negotiations are currently taking place.