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Azerbaijan blames Russia for airline crash; demands apology

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Azerbaijan blames Russia for airline crash; demands apology
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Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has accused Russia of mistakenly shooting down Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8432 on Christmas Day, resulting in a crash in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people. In an interview with Azerbaijani state television, as reported by Reuters, Aliyev condemned Russia's actions and criticized its initial response to the incident.

Passengers aboard the flight from Baku to Grozny claimed they heard a large explosion before the aircraft veered off course and crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan. Aliyev stated that gunfire from Russian airspace hit the plane and electronic warfare systems rendered it uncontrollable.

Aliyev expressed dissatisfaction with Russia's early explanations for the crash, which included theories of a bird strike or an onboard gas cylinder explosion. "For the first three days, we heard nothing from Russia except for absurd theories," he said. He emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in handling such incidents.

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"There can be no talk of a deliberate act of terror here. Therefore, admitting the guilt, apologizing in a timely manner to Azerbaijan, which is considered a friendly country, and informing the public about this—all these were measures and steps that should have been taken," Aliyev stated.

The confirmation that Russian air defense systems caused the crash came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin offered condolences but did not take full responsibility. Putin described it as a "tragic incident" due to accidental responses to Ukrainian drone attacks near Grozny at that time.

Flight J28432 was carrying 67 people when it departed Baku for Grozny. The aircraft crashed approximately 280 miles from its destination after deviating following an explosion. Investigations revealed external objects struck the fuselage before control was lost.

Aliyev outlined demands to Russia: an official apology, admission of guilt, criminal accountability for those responsible, and compensation for victims' families.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed another call between Putin and Aliyev but did not provide details on their discussion.

The United States acknowledged indications suggesting Russian air defense involvement but refrained from further comment pending investigation results.

This incident adds to aviation tragedies linked to conflicts involving Ukraine. Notably, Malaysia Airlines MH17 was downed by a missile over eastern Ukraine in 2014 amid allegations against rebels backed by Russia—claims Moscow denied—and Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 was shot down by Iranian missiles in January 2020 shortly after departing Tehran.

Organizations Included in this History
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