Russia calls for ‘thorough investigation’ into mass grave near French base

Moscow expects Paris to aid in probes instead of using the occasion to tarnish the image of the Malian military

The Western media might be tempted to blame the Malian Army for alleged atrocities after a mass grave was found near a camp of the French forces in central Mali, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday, as it called for a thorough probe into the matter.

“We support the decision of the Mali authorities to investigate the circumstances of this crime in the most thorough way,” the ministry said, adding that it expects “Paris to effectively contribute to the probes into murders and disappearance of the Malian citizens.”

The statement came just days after videos surfaced on social media that supposedly show a mass grave with dozens of bodies being discovered in a military camp once occupied by French forces taking part in Operation Barkhane in Mali and neighboring African nations.

The Malian Army (FAMA) confirmed late Friday that they discovered a mass grave near the former French camp in Gossi, central Mali. The French forces left the “advanced operational base” on Tuesday and handed it over to the Malian military. The base reportedly hosted hundreds of French soldiers.

https://www.rt.com/russia/554397-france-mali-mass-grave-investigation/