Baku expects Moscow to take responsibility for the crash of the AZAL airline aircraft. This was stated by Hikmet Hajiyev, head of the foreign policy department of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, in an interview with the Berliner Zeitung.
"The incident occurred on Russian territory, in Russian airspace, and we know very well how it happened. This is no secret. As a neighboring and partner country, Azerbaijan expects Russia to take responsibility in this matter and ensure justice," Hajiyev said.
According to the Azerbaijani official, the tension in relations between Baku and Moscow arose precisely after the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) aircraft.
On December 25, 2024, an AZAL aircraft crashed near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan. As a result of the incident, 38 people died. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated after the crash that the plane had been damaged due to "external impact" near the city of Grozny, which led to the loss of control.
According to Russia, the area was under attack by Ukrainian drones at the time the plane was attempting to land at Grozny airport. Russian President Vladimir Putin called Aliyev and apologized for the "tragic incident involving the aircraft that occurred in Russian airspace."
Ilham Aliyev announced that Azerbaijan is preparing documents to file lawsuits against Russia in international courts over the plane crash. Baku demands that Moscow admit guilt, compensate the victims' families, and cover the damages caused to the AZAL aircraft.
