Azerbaijani President Blames Russia for Passenger Jet Incident
A passenger jet flying from Azerbaijan’s capital Baku to Grozny in Russia’s Chechnya region crashed near Aktau in Kazakhstan on December 25, after being redirected by Russian air traffic authorities. Initially, it was reported that the plane had experienced engine trouble due to a bird strike. However, multiple sources are now pointing towards a tragic mistake by Russian air defenses, which purportedly shot down the civilian aircraft.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed regret over the crash, noting that the plane entered Russian airspace amid Ukrainian drone attacks in the region. However, he has refrained from acknowledging that the plane was targeted by Russian forces.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, however, strongly criticizes Russia’s handling of the incident. He dismissed Russian explanations, stating that the plane was indeed shot down by Russian air defenses. Aliyev has called for an objective investigation into the matter.
In an unusual turn of events, Aliyev, who has generally maintained good relations with Russia, publicly confronted Putin over the issue. "We can clearly see that the plane was shot down by Russia. This is a fact," Aliyev said in a statement released by his administration.
Meanwhile, Russian authorities have suggested that the crash was caused by an onboard gas cylinder explosion. However, surviving crew members quickly refuted this claim. Aliyev has since called the Russian narrative "absurd" and "an attempt to cover up the incident."
The crash comes amid escalating tensions between Russia and the West over the Ukraine conflict. Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine of launching drone strikes on its territory, while Ukraine has denied any involvement in the attacks.
In a separate development, Azerbaijan’s close relationship with Russia, as a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), has been called into question. Aliyev rebuffed Russian proposals for the CIS-led investigation into the incident, citing concerns over its objectivity due to Russian influence within the organization. "Russia has attempted to cover up this incident," Aliyev asserted.
The incident has raised international concerns over military actions impacting civilian lives, particularly in the wake of a Ukrainian airliner being shot down by Iran’s air defenses in 2020. As the investigation into this latest incident continues, international pressure mounts on Russia to provide transparent and accountable answers.
Image: Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev (R) forcefully criticizes Russia over the handling of the passenger jet incident. The two leaders are seen together in Kazakhstan earlier this year. Photo: Sputnik
