Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has asserted that a recent plane crash that killed 38 people was caused by Russian forces, alleging the aircraft was unintentionally shot down. Aliyev has publicly criticized Russia's initial response, accusing Moscow of attempting to "hush up" the incident.
The president stated on Azerbaijani state television that the airliner was struck by ground fire over Russian territory and became uncontrollable due to electronic warfare. He emphasized that while the incident may not have been intentional, the responsibility lies with Russia.
According to Aliyev, Russia initially provided "delirious versions" of the events, which he found both upsetting and surprising. This prompted Azerbaijan to issue three demands: a formal apology, an admission of guilt, and punishment for those responsible, including compensation for the victims.
While Russian President Vladimir Putin has since apologized for what he termed a "tragic incident," he did not explicitly acknowledge Russian responsibility. Aliyev acknowledged the initial apology as fulfilling Azerbaijan's first demand, but underscored the importance of a transparent investigation.
Azerbaijan has insisted on an international panel of experts to investigate the crash, rejecting Russia's offer to have the Interstate Aviation Committee, which primarily comprises Russian officials, lead the investigation, citing concerns about objectivity. The ongoing investigation is expected to reveal a final version of events after the flight recorders are analyzed.
The crash occurred after the plane, en route from Baku to Grozny, deviated towards Kazakhstan before crashing during a landing attempt. Survivors reported hearing loud noises while circling over Grozny. Russia has claimed its air defense systems were engaged in the area due to a Ukrainian drone strike, and has pointed to fog as a contributing factor.
This incident marks the second deadly civil aviation accident linked to conflicts involving Ukraine. A Dutch court previously convicted individuals for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, which was hit by a Russian missile in eastern Ukraine in 2014, underscoring the history of such incidents. A joint investigation by Russia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan is underway at the crash site.
