Putin Expresses Regret to Aliyev over Azerbaijan Airlines Crash in Russia
In a somber phone conversation, Russian President Vladimir Putin extended his heartfelt condolences to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev following the tragic crash of Azerbaijan Airlines flight J28243 within Russia’s airspace. The unfortunate incident, which claimed numerous lives, occurred while the aircraft was attempting to land in Grozny.
" Presidente Vladimir Putin expressed his deep regret and sympathy to the families of the victims. He wished a swift recovery to those wounded in the accident," stated the Kremlin in an official release. The conversation also addressed the circumstances surrounding the crash, with Putin asserting that Russia’s air defense system was actively engaged in repelling Ukrainian military aircraft over Grozny, Mozdok, and Vladikavkaz at the time.
However, Kremlin refrained from commenting on speculations suggesting that the Airbus A320 could have been downed by Russian air defense systems. Instead, it emphasized that both Russia and Azerbaijan are thoroughly investigating the incident.
In addition to engaging with Azerbaijan, Russia has also collaborated closely with Kazakhstan, urging that country to conduct a transparent and objective probe into the Azerbaijan Airlines tragedy. The international community eagerly awaits the findings of these investigations to shed light on the causes behind this devastating aviation disaster.
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