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Conflict in Syria

Senior Russian MP dubs as ‘bluff’ allegations about Russian 'war crimes' in Syria

Matviyenko believes an offer to create a no-fly zone in that area was made in order to "shield from strikes the so-called peaceful opposition"

Syrian people receive Russian humanitarian aid in a camp near the town of Hama Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS

Syrian people receive Russian humanitarian aid in a camp near the town of Hama

© Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS

MOSCOW, October 12. /TASS/. The speaker of the Russian Federation Council upper house of parliament dubbed as ‘bluff’ and ‘blasphemy’ reports about Russia’s alleged war crimes in Syria.

"All this is bluff, blasphemous statements targeting Russia," Valentina Matviyenko told reporters on Wednesday. She said tensions are whipped up around the situation in Aleppo against the background of success in fight against terrorists, who have been "driven into the corner".

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Matviyenko believes an offer to create a no-fly zone in that area was made in order to "shield from strikes the so-called peaceful opposition" giving an opportunity for the gunmen to regroup. "A cooked up story of practically war crimes of Russia," appeared against this background, she noted.

The speaker said Russia would continue negotiations in order to bring to the negotiating table the Syrian government opposition forces, with the exception of those "whose hands are steeped in blood up to the elbows". "There is no military solution to the Syrian problem," she said.

On October 7, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Russia and the Syrian government should face war crimes probe. "Russia, and the regime, owe the world more than an explanation about why they keep hitting hospitals and medical facilities and children and women. These are acts that beg for an appropriate investigation of war crimes and those who commit these would and should be held accountable for these actions," he said.

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Foreign policy Syrian conflict

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