MOSCOW. Aug 7 (Interfax) - A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman has upbraided a senior French diplomat for claiming that Russia is evading participation in the investigation of the Malaysian Airline flight MH17 crash in eastern Ukraine.
"We were bewildered at information on French official websites about a speech that Nicolas de Riviere, who has recently been appointed political director at the French Foreign Ministry, gave to French deputies late in July," Alexander Bikantov told Interfax.
"Contrary to common sense, de Riviere, without waiting for the completion of the international investigation into the crash of the Malaysian Boeing in the Ukrainian skies, has named Russia as the culprit and advocates sanctions," Bikantov said.
"De Riviere's insinuations to the effect that Russia is evading cooperation in the investigation are an insult, pure and simple."
Malaysia Airlines' Boeing 777 fell near Donetsk on July 17 during a flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
The crash killed all 298 people on board - 192 Dutch citizens, one of whom also had U.S. nationality, 44 Malaysians, including the 15-member crew, 27 Australians, 12 Indonesians, 10 Britons, one of whom was also a South African national, four Germans, four Belgians, three Filipinos, one Canadian, and one New Zealander.
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