Moscow: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says Russia is being made a scapegoat for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 and questioned the objectivity of the investigations into the 2014 disaster.

It comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected charges laid against Russian citizens for their alleged roles in the tragedy five years ago, saying they lack proof.

Russian President Vladimir Putin responds to a journalist's question. Credit:AP

The international investigative team set up to look into the crash said on Wednesday three Russians and one Ukrainian will face murder charges for the deaths of 298 people aboard the flight that was shot down over eastern Ukraine.

"We are very unhappy, because from the very beginning it was a political issue on how to accuse Russia of the wrongdoing," Mahathir told reporters at a government event.