Azerbaijan Presses Russia for Accountability in Christmas Plane Crash

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has called on Russia to acknowledge its role in a devastating plane crash that occurred on Christmas Day, demanding accountability and compensation for the incident that left many bereaved.

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has expressed deep concerns regarding a plane crash that took place on December 25, which resulted in the tragic deaths of 38 people. The incident involved an Azerbaijan Airlines flight that was allegedly fired upon by Russian air defense systems while attempting to land in Chechnya. Following initial distress signals, the aircraft, Flight J2-8243, was diverted to Kazakhstan, where it ultimately crashed near Aktau.

In response to the incident, Russian President Vladimir Putin extended apologies to President Aliyev; however, he abstained from taking direct responsibility. Aliyev charged Russia with a "cover up" over the circumstances surrounding the crash, insisting that accountability is essential. "While we appreciate the apology, Russia must firmly admit its guilt and offer compensation," he emphasized.

The ill-fated flight was en route from Baku to Grozny, carrying passengers predominantly from Azerbaijan, alongside individuals from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Investigations by aviation experts revealed that the aircraft's GPS might have been compromised by electronic jamming, further compounded by damage inflicted by shrapnel from Russian missiles.

In the aftermath of the incident, Aliyev condemned divergent Russian theories suggesting the explosion of a gas cylinder or collisions with birds. He described these narratives as "foolish and dishonest," asserting the notion that the plane was shot down by accident was indeed a possibility, albeit muddled by errant narratives from Russia in the days that followed.

Baku issued several demands to Moscow, only to see one of them acknowledged—Putin's apology. While discussing the tragic occurrence on Saturday, Putin framed the incident within the context of ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks being repelled by Russian air defense systems.

Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky, meanwhile, urged Russia to halt its disinformation campaign, noting that damage to the aircraft bore similarities to evidence from missile strikes. Despite acknowledging the aircraft's maneuvers, official Kremlin communications stopped short of confessing to any culpability.

President Aliyev reiterated Azerbaijan's requests for a formal acknowledgment of guilt from Russia, the identification and punishment of those responsible, as well as compensation for both the Azerbaijani government and the victims' families. Given the friendly ties between the two countries, Aliyev expressed astonishment that such an event could occur in an allied nation.

As the nation mourns the loss of the three heroic crew members who skillfully maneuvered the aircraft to allow 29 passengers to survive, Azerbaijan honors them for their bravery and sacrifice, marking this incident as a somber reminder of the complexities of international relations amid ongoing conflict.