UN Security Council votes on MH17 tribunal tonight

The United Nations Security Council will vote on the establishment of an international tribunal to prosecute those responsible for the downing of flight MH17 on Wednesday night, a spokesperson for New Zealand, chairman of the Security Council, said to Russian news agency Sputnik. The vote will take place in New York at 9:00 p.m. Dutch time. The resolution for the tribunal was submitted by Malaysia. According to news agency ANP, the two page resolution states that the MH17 disaster is a "threat to international peace and security". It also states that the establishment of a tribunal is in accordance with the UN rules and that all countries should fully cooperate with the tribunal. Russia previously announced that the country will be voting against the establishment of a MH17 tribunal. As one of the permanent members of the Security Council, Russia has veto power within the council. Over the past month the Netherlands, along with Malaysia, Australia, the Ukraine and Belgium, have been trying to change Russia's mind, but so far without success. Both the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and President Vladimir Putin called the tribunal untimely and counterproductive.