United Nations: Russia used its veto power for the 12th time Tuesday at the UN Security Council to block action directed at its Syrian ally.
The latest veto prevented the adoption of US-drafted resolution to investigate chemical weapons use in Syria aimed at identifying the perpetrators.
Here’s a look at Russia’s 12 vetoes on Syria:
In all, Russia used it veto four times to block draft resolutions seeking to establish investigations of chemical weapons use in Syria’s seven-year war. A fifth veto was used to prevent a Western bid to impose sanctions over chemical weapons use.
April 10, 2018: Russia vetoed a US-drafted resolution after 12 countries backed the measure. China abstained, while Bolivia voted against.
November 16-17/October 24, 2017: In less than a month, Russia used its veto three times to block draft resolutions on renewing a UN-led probe of chemical weapons attacks in Syria.
The Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) died on November 17 after several attempts by the Security Council to save the panel failed to meet Russian demands.
April 12, 2017: Russia vetoed a draft resolution demanding that President Bashar Assad’s government cooperate with an investigation into the deadly suspected chemical attack in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun on April 4. China abstained.
February 28, 2017: Russia and China again vetoed a UN resolution, drafted by Britain, France and the United States that would have imposed sanctions on Syria over chemical weapons use in the conflict
December 5, 2016: A resolution that calls for a truce in Aleppo is vetoed by both China and Russia. Egypt, New Zealand and Spain presented the measure. The vote was 11 to 3 with one abstention from Angola. Venezuela voted against, alongside China and Russia.
October 8, 2016: Russia alone vetoes a text proposed by France and Spain to halt the bombing of Aleppo, after presenting a rival draft that urged a cease-fire but made no mention of barring military flights over the city. China abstained in that vote, the first time it did not veto a Syria draft resolution alongside Russia.
May 22, 2014: Beijing and Moscow block a French-drafted proposal for the Security Council to refer Syrian crimes to the International Criminal Court (ICC) is blocked. All 13 other council members backed the measure.
Russia accused Britain, France and the United States of hypocrisy in not wanting war crimes in Iraq referred to the ICC.
July 19, 2012: Beijing and Moscow again veto a Western-backed resolution that threatens Damascus with sanctions if it does not stop using heavy weapons.
February 4, 2012: Russia and China again vetoed a draft resolution that condemns a Syrian government crackdown on the opposition, while the Security Council’s other members voted in favor.
The veto sparked an international outcry, especially because it came a few hours after Syrian forces bomb the protest city of Homs, killing hundreds of people.
October 4, 2011: Six months after the Syrian conflict began, Russia and China blocked a proposed UN resolution condemning grave human rights violations in Syria and threatening measures against President Bashar Assad’s government.
