The Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s statement regarding the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner, which he claims was unintentionally shot down by Russian forces.
Key Points:
Incident Details: The airliner, en route to Grozny, Chechnya, was hit by Russian ground fire and disrupted by electronic warfare. It diverted to Kazakhstan and crashed near Aktau, killing 38 of 67 passengers. Russia attributed the incident to defensive actions against a Ukrainian drone strike near Grozny.
Azerbaijan's Response: Aliyev criticized Russia for initial delays and conflicting explanations, calling for an apology (already issued by President Putin), an admission of guilt, and compensation for victims and Azerbaijan.
Investigation: Aliyev demanded an international investigation, rejecting Russia's suggestion to use a Russian-dominated aviation committee. A joint inquiry by Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kazakhstan is ongoing.
Historical Context: The crash recalls the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine, also involving Russian military actions. A Dutch court convicted individuals for that incident in 2022, though Russia denied involvement.
The article underscores the crash’s implications for Russia-Azerbaijan relations and parallels with previous aviation tragedies linked to geopolitical conflicts.
