MOSCOW, July 16 (RAPSI) - President Vladimir Putin believes an international tribunal over the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight 17 (MH17) in Ukraine is unnecessary, TASS reports Thursday.

“Putin explains Russia’s view, specifically that it is preterm and counter-productive for several countries, including the Netherlands, to initiate an international tribunal for the criminal prosecution of those responsible for bringing down the Malaysian plane,” the Kremlin Press Service cites a phone conversation between the President and Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte.

“It was stressed during the conversation that to make a resolution regarding the legal proceedings and the prosecution of the suspects, it is necessary to speed up the international investigation that must be thorough and objective, independent and comprehensive, and fully in accordance with UNSC Resolution 2166 of July 21, 2014, as proposed by Russia,” the Press Service said.

Also, “it was emphasized that any misleading versions of the incident in the media are unacceptable, especially if they are politically motivated.”