Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has once again held Russian officials accountable for the Christmas Day plane crash that claimed the lives of 38 people, calling for those responsible to face punishment.
Speaking on Monday during a meeting with the families of the airliner crew members who perished in the disaster, Aliyev stated, “[T]he blame for the fact that Azerbaijani citizens died in this disaster lies with the representatives of the Russian Federation.” The president went on to demand “justice,” “punishment for those responsible,” and “complete transparency and humane behavior.”
Aliyev’s pointed remarks signal a noticeable strain in what were once friendly ties between Moscow and Baku. Despite maintaining a neutral stance in Russia’s war against Ukraine, Azerbaijan, a key trading partner of Russia in the South Caucasus, has seen increasing bilateral trade with Moscow, particularly in fossil fuels. This trade relationship has grown as the European Union continues efforts to reduce its reliance on Russian energy supplies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a phone call with Aliyev following the crash, did extend an apology, acknowledging the presence of operational air defenses in the area at the time of the incident. However, Putin refrained from taking responsibility for the downing of the aircraft.
Azerbaijan has made three explicit demands of Moscow: an apology, an acknowledgment of responsibility, and appropriate compensation for both the Azerbaijani state and the affected victims. While Putin’s apology partially addressed the first demand, Aliyev reiterated on Monday his concerns that Russian authorities were attempting to “hush up the incident” by promoting implausible explanations, such as an initial claim that the crash was caused by a flock of birds.
The crash, which caused widespread devastation, occurred on December 25 when the civilian aircraft, en route from Baku to Grozny in Russia’s Chechen Republic, encountered trouble. Passengers reportedly heard an explosion mid-flight, prompting the plane to deviate hundreds of kilometers from its intended route before crashing near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. Of the 67 people on board, 38 died, and 29 managed to survive.
To ensure a thorough investigation, Azerbaijan sent the aircraft’s black boxes to Brazil, where experts began analyzing the data on January 3.
Aliyev’s criticism of Russia in connection with the crash highlights a deepening rift between the two nations, raising questions about the future trajectory of their relationship amid this tragedy.
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