Russian Veto at UN Security Council Supports Assad’s Crimes & Shields Terror

Press Release

Media Department

Syrian Coalition

April 13, 2017

The Syrian Coalition strongly condemns Russia's vetoing of a draft resolution in the UN Security Council calling for investigating the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons in the attack on the town of Khan Sheikoun in rural Idlib on April 4.

This decision is clearly aimed at supporting the perpetrators of the crime as Russia continues to block of the UN Security Council. it represents a violation of UN Security Council resolution 2118, especially Article III of the resolution. By blocking the draft resolution, Russia has wriggled out of its commitment to the cease-fire agreement in Syria. The decision also seriously threatens any role for Russia in the political process in Geneva.

The mere possession of the chemical weapons by the Assad regime was more than enough incentive for the international community to take action and put an end to this regime. The international community has not yet shown any serious response to Assad’s use of chemical weapons against civilians in two large massacres, in eastern Ghouta in 2013 and in Khan Sheikhoun in 2017, and dozens of other smaller scale attacks.

The Russian decision does not provide an appropriate climate for the success of negotiations. On the contrary, it encourages the Assad regime to commit more crimes without any fear of the consequences. Russia’s latest decision makes it directly complicit in Assad’s crimes as Russia continues to encourage the use of lethal internationally banned weapons and the violation of international resolutions.

Moreover, this internationally condemned regime, which will inevitably fall, will be a burden on Russia and a condemnation that will go down in history unless they take a different position and stop providing a cover-up for the regime and respond to the will of the Syrian people to end the murderous regime and establish a democratic, pluralistic state.

May our wounded recover, out detainees be free, and our fallen heroes rest in peace.

Long live Syria and the Syrian people, free and with honor.