Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressed the tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight near the Kazakh city of Aktau, attributing the incident to a lack of proper coordination between Russia’s military and civilian services. Aliyev emphasized that had Russian airspace near Grozny been closed as necessary and ground services followed protocols, the crash could have been avoided. During a meeting with surviving crew members and families of the victims, Aliyev stated that preliminary findings confirmed Russia’s responsibility for the crash, and he called for justice and accountability.
He voiced disappointment over the Russian investigation’s handling, particularly regarding the initial suggestion that the crash was caused by a bird strike or gas cylinder explosion. Aliyev criticized Russia’s lack of transparency, noting the attempt to downplay the severity of the tragedy. He also revealed that the black boxes recovered from the crash site were being decoded in Brazil to ensure objectivity.
On December 25, the Azerbaijan Airlines flight, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau, killing 38 of the 67 people aboard. Initial reports suggested a bird collision, but further evidence pointed to a missile attack. Aliyev demanded Moscow’s acknowledgment of responsibility, including compensation for the victims’ families. Russian President Vladimir Putin later apologized for the incident during a phone call with Aliyev, but Azerbaijan continues to press for a thorough and transparent investigation into the matter.
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