Russia Fights 'Counterproductive' MH 17 Tribunal, Proposes Investigation With Greater UN Role

On Monday, Russia called for the United Nations to play a bigger role in the investigation into the demise of MH 17, while also fighting against the tribunal five countries have promoted as the way to determine who's responsible for the 2014 plane crash. In a U.N. resolution introduced Monday, Russia said it worried the probe wasn't "[transparent] in its organization and work methods, which may have a negative impact on its outcome," the Associated Press reported. Russia suggested the U.N.'s International Civil Aviation Organization should have a more active role going forward.

"The U.N. Security Council is not supposed to deal with issues like this," Russia Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters Monday. "Our suggestion is a different kind of suggestion."

The inquiry at hand is one surrounding Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, also known as MH 17, which was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last July when it was shot down. All 298 people on board were killed in the crash, which occurred in Grabove, near part of Ukraine that is controlled by pro-Russian separatists. Ukraine has alleged the rebels shot the plane down with weapons supplied by Russia, but Russia has denied this and suggested that Ukrainians were responsible.

Five countries -- Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Ukraine -- have been leading the investigation into the incident. The group proposed an international tribunal last month that would prosecute suspects, but Russia immediately rejected the idea. President Vladimir Putin reportedly called a tribunal "counterproductive."

On Monday, Russia put forth its resolution with an alternative. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon would have to appoint a U.N. special envoy as well as figure out steps to enhance the role of the U.N. in the probe, Reuters reported. It would still "demand that the perpetrators of the aerial incident be brought to justice."

The Security Council spent the day analyzing Russia's proposal. The five countries, meanwhile, prepared to put their resolution for a tribunal to a vote -- though Russia has the power to veto it.