Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has publicly accused Russia of firing at an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet before its fatal crash, while also slamming Moscow for an alleged cover-up. The AZAL flight crashed in Kazakhstan last week, killing 38 out of 67 people onboard. This accusation comes amidst growing tensions and a rare public fallout between the two traditional allies.
Aliyev, speaking to state media from Baku airport, alleged that the plane was struck by a Russian air-defense system as it attempted to land in Grozny, Chechnya. “The facts are that the Azerbaijani civilian plane was damaged from the outside over Russian territory, near the city of Grozny, and almost lost control,” Aliyev said. He further accused Moscow of deploying electronic warfare systems that disrupted the aircraft’s stability and claimed the plane’s tail was severely damaged by ground fire.
Despite these grave accusations, the Kremlin has maintained a tight-lipped approach. A statement following a call between Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin merely expressed condolences and called for a “transparent investigation.” However, Aliyev wasn’t buying it, describing Russia’s initial explanations as absurd and far removed from reality. “For the first three days, we heard nothing from Russia except some absurd theories, including claims that the plane hit a flock of birds. This theory is completely detached from reality when the fuselage is riddled with holes,” he said.
Aliyev’s fiery remarks escalated further as he outlined Azerbaijan’s demands. He called for a public apology from Russia, an admission of guilt, criminal accountability for those responsible, and compensation for both the state and the victims. “These are our conditions,” he declared, using unusually strong language against a country considered an ally.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, continues to tread cautiously. It acknowledged that Russian air defense was active in Grozny on the day of the crash, purportedly due to an attack by Ukrainian drones. Yet, Putin’s promise of a “transparent” investigation has done little to quell Azerbaijan’s outrage. The incident has also drawn international scrutiny, with the United States stating it had “early indications” pointing to Russia’s involvement, though details remain sparse. The European Union has demanded an independent and swift investigation into the tragedy.
