Russia refuses US calls for probe into chemical weapons use in Syria

Russia’s obstruction of a UN inquiry into chemical attacks in Syria has been met with sharp rebuke from the US.

The White House yesterday condemned Moscow for its “callous disregard” in blocking efforts to renew the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), which probes incidents such as the use of chemical weapons.

JIM, which comprises of the UN and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, is facing expiration in the coming weeks. Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution last week, which would have seen JIM’s mandate to probe into the use of chemical weapons in Syria, extended to 2018.

Moscow disapproved of the JIM panel which released a report last week concluding that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime was behind the sarin gas attack in April that killed more than 100 citizens. The incident saw US President Donald Trump launch air strikes against the Syrian regime.

Read: Opposition calls on UN Security Council to punish Syrian regime for using chemical weapons

While Syria has maintained innocence over the use of chemical attacks, the White House said in a statement: “This unconscionable attack marks the fourth time that the JIM has confirmed that [Assad’s] regime used chemical weapons, underscoring the brutal and horrifying barbarism of Bashar Al-Assad and making the protection provided by Russia even more egregious.”

“Russia’s attempts to undermine and eliminate the JIM show a callous disregard for the suffering and loss of life caused by the use of chemical weapons, and an utter lack of respect for international norms,” it continued.

“The United States implores the UN Security Council to renew the mandate of the JIM so that we may continue to identify the perpetrators of these horrific attacks and send a clear message that the use of chemical weapons will not be tolerated,” the White House added.

But the Kremlin is reported to have dismissed American appeals to renew JIM. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov hit out at what he believes are American attempts to influence the UN. European news agencies reported Ryabkov saying that “urgent and drastic measures must be taken to protect the United Nations’ body and all activities along this track from US diktat.”