President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan has accused Russia of culpability in the downing of an Azerbaijani Airlines aircraft, which crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on 25th December 2024. The incident claimed 38 lives, sparking diplomatic tensions between Baku and Moscow.
Aircraft Downed by Ground Fire
Aliyev stated that the Embraer aircraft was struck by fire from the ground while traversing Russian airspace. Citing Azerbaijani sources and reports from TASS and Caliber, Aliyev highlighted that preliminary investigations suggested the attack was not intentional. However, he criticised Russia’s handling of the incident in its immediate aftermath.
“The plane suffered damage due to ground fire,” Aliyev remarked. He emphasised that Russia, as a self-proclaimed ally of Azerbaijan, should have promptly admitted fault, issued an apology, and communicated this to the public.
“Instead, for the first three days, we heard nothing from Russia but absurd and misleading explanations,” Aliyev added.
Moscow’s Delayed Response
In a phone call with Aliyev, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed regret over the tragedy, describing it as a “tragic incident” in Russian airspace. However, Putin stopped short of acknowledging Russian responsibility for the crash.
Aliyev has publicly demanded not only a formal apology but also full admission of guilt and compensation for the victims and their families. He outlined Azerbaijan’s position in clear terms: “The Russian side must apologise to Azerbaijan, acknowledge its culpability, and ensure that those responsible are held criminally accountable. Compensation must also be provided to the Azerbaijani state, the victims, and the crew members.”
Aliyev expressed hope that Russia would meet these conditions, stating that one demand—an apology—had already been addressed. He stressed that Azerbaijan’s requirements are consistent with international norms and basic principles of justice.
Evidence of External Interference
Azerbaijani Airlines reported on 27 December that the downed aircraft suffered from “external physical and technical interference.” This claim aligns with the assertion that the plane was struck by ground fire. However, further investigation is necessary to determine the precise circumstances of the attack.
Image source: armenpress.am
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