Moscow has repeatedly called for a thorough investigation into chemical attacks in Syria, in particular, the April Khan ShAikhoun incident that killed at least 80 people.

Russia has vetoed the US-draft resolution to extend the mandate of the United Nations-Organization for the Protection of Chemical Weapons (UN-OPCW) Joint Investigative Mechanism that was tasked to probe cases of possible chemical weapons use in Syria.

“The result of the voting is as follows: eleven votes in favor, two votes against, two abstentions. The draft resolution has not been not adopted owing to the negative vote of a permanent member of the [UN Security] Council,” UN Security Council President and French Ambassador Francois Delattre said after the vote.

The vote came a day after the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that it was necessary to study the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) report which was expected to be delivered on October 26. However, the US insisted that the mandate should be extended immediately as it would expire on November 16.

According to Moscow, Russia’s position on the extension of the mandate would depend on the quality of the investigation and its compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Source: Sputnik