Cameron accuses Russia of 'standing in way of justice' for MH17

Prime Minister says Russian decision to block international criminal tribunal into Malaysia Airline flight shot down over Ukraine "infuriating"

David Cameron during a trip to Moscow in 2011

David Cameron has accused Russia of “standing in the way of justice” after it blocked the creation of an international criminal probe into the downing of flight MH17.

The Prime Minister said Vladimir Putin’s decision to veto a draft UN Security Council resolution that would have set up an international tribunal to prosecute those suspected of downing a Malaysia Airlines passenger airliner in eastern Ukraine was “infuriating.”

An alternative route to bring the guilty to justice may now be found, he said.

Eleven countries on the 15-member council voted in favour of the proposal by Malaysia, Australia, the Netherlands and Ukraine, while three countries abstained: China, Angola and Venezuela.

"What are the grounds to be assured of the impartiality of such an investigation?" Russian ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said in a speech to the Council after the vote.

Mr Cameron, on a visit to Vietnam, told reporters the move was “infuriating and completely wrong”.

“Let us not forget: British people died on this flight. Hundreds of people died on this flight. We cannot let one country stand in the way of getting to the truth or one country stand in the way of getting justice.

“If we cannot set up a tribunal through the United Nations route, we will have to look at other ways to make sure this is done.

“As in the case of the Lockerbie disaster, justice must be done.”

Mr Churkin had asked how it could resist an "aggressive backdrop of propaganda in the media".

Earlier in the day, Russian president Vladimir Putin rejected a last-minute appeal from the Dutch prime minister to support the creation of the international tribunal.

In a “frank and detailed” telephone conversation, Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, made an “urgent” appeal to the Russian president.

Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was destroyed over eastern Ukraine on July 17 last year, killing all 298 people on board.

They included ten Britons.

Malaysia, the Netherlands, Australia, Ukraine, and Belgium have called for an international tribunal to try the suspects. A UN resolution would oblige all countries to support the tribunal or face sanctions.

However, Russia said discussion of a tribunal should be postponed until two Dutch-led investigations into the crash release their reports. No suspects have yet been named.

The Kremlin said Mr Putin “expressed regret” that the countries had not supported a compromise resolution put forward by Russia.

Western countries claim the Boeing 777 was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile fired by Russian-backed separatists who mistook it for a Ukrainian aircraft.

A Telegraph investigation has found strong evidence that MH17 was shot down by a Buk missile launcher firing from separatist-controlled territory 12 miles south-east of the crash site.

Russia and the separatists have consistently denied any involvement.

By Matthew Holehouse, Ho Chi Minh City, and Roland Oliphant in Moscow