Azerbaijan Prepares Legal Action Against Russia Over Plane Crash
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has announced that his country is preparing to take legal action against Russia in international courts over the tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight near Aktau on 25 December last year. The incident, which resulted in the loss of 38 lives, has sparked significant tension between the two nations and raised questions about accountability and transparency.
The plane was en route from Baku to Grozny when it crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on the Caspian Sea. Despite the apparent clarity of the event, Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan has not received a meaningful response from Russia, even after seven months have passed since the crash. He emphasized that the circumstances of the incident are “as clear as day,” but the lack of cooperation from Russian authorities has been frustrating for Azerbaijani officials.
In a press event moderated by Jane Witherspoon, Euronews Bureau Chief in the Middle East, Aliyev expressed confidence that Azerbaijan has a clear understanding of what happened to the AZAL plane. He claimed that the country can prove its case and believes that Russian officials are aware of the truth. However, he questioned why Russia has not taken the expected steps to address the issue.
Aliyev highlighted that the Azerbaijani prosecutor general has sent formal requests to the head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, but the only response received so far has been that “the investigation is ongoing.” He criticized this stance as counterproductive and reiterated Baku’s commitment to seeking justice through international legal channels.
Azerbaijan has informed Russia that it is preparing a detailed dossier for a potential lawsuit. The president also drew a comparison to the long-standing investigation into the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 crash, which claimed 239 lives in 2014 and has spanned over a decade. He said, “We are ready to wait ten years, but justice must win.” However, he noted that the current situation remains unresolved, which is detrimental to bilateral relations between Russia and Azerbaijan.
Key Demands from Azerbaijan
According to Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s demands include a formal admission of fault from Russia, prosecution of those responsible for downing the plane, compensation for the families of the victims, and financial reparation for damages suffered by AZAL.
On 4 February, a preliminary official report from the Azerbaijani government confirmed that the plane had been shot down by a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system. This information was corroborated by Azerbaijani government sources, who exclusively told Euronews as early as 26 December that a Russian surface-to-air missile caused the crash.
A Statement of Support for Ukraine
Aliyev’s comments came just hours after he reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s unwavering support for Ukraine. In a statement reported by local media, he emphasized that Azerbaijan stands firmly behind Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and internationally recognized borders. This declaration underscores the complex geopolitical landscape in which Azerbaijan operates, balancing relationships with multiple regional powers while maintaining its own national interests.
