Photo: AFP

Russia on Tuesday said that it would be “counterproductive” to bring war crimes in Syria before the International Criminal Court (ICC) as proposed by dozens of countries led by Switzerland. The Russian Foreign Ministry indicated that Moscow considers the proposal untimely and counterproductive for resolving the crisis in Syria. Moscow said International criminal proceedings will only widen disagreements and complicate political agreement efforts. Russia re-affirmed its support for a transition plan internationally agreed to in Geneva last June. The Russian Foreign Ministry statement was released after Switzerland asked the UN Security Council to use its power to “demand explanations” for Syria’s crimes.