"GODFATHER" PROTECTS "LIEUTENANT": Russia against referring Syria war crimes case to ICC

Free Syrian Army fighter inspects damages in Harem town, Idlib Governorate, January 14, 2013. Picture taken January 14, 2013. (Reuters)

By Al Arabiya with agencies

Russia on Tuesday said it would be “counterproductive” to refer war crimes committed in the Syria conflict to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as proposed by dozens of states led by Switzerland.

“We view this initiative as untimely and counterproductive to solving today’s main goal -- an immediate end to the bloodshed in Syria,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

FULL ARTICLE HERE: Russia against referring Syria war crimes case to ICC