Azerbaijan Demands Accountability for Fatal Airlines Crash Amid Kremlin's Silence

Azerbaijan is escalating tensions with Russia following the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25, which resulted in the tragic loss of 38 lives. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has adamantly stated that the plane was shot down from the ground as it approached its landing zone in Grozny, Russia. While the Kremlin has acknowledged air defense operations were underway, it has refrained from admitting any involvement in the incident.

Aliyev has criticized Moscow for what he describes as a "concealment" of the true causes surrounding the crash and has called for an impartial investigation into the matter. The Armenian leader has expressed discontent over the handling of the situation, emphasizing the need for accountability and justice for the victims.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that Russian experts are cooperating fully with the investigation and expressed a desire for a thorough and objective inquiry into the catastrophe. However, despite calls for acknowledgment of responsibility, Moscow has not publicly accepted blame for the shooting down of the aircraft.

In a series of phone calls made to Aliyev following the disaster, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed regret over the incident occurring in Russian airspace but did not concede responsibility. Azerbaijani authorities have reportedly found evidence supporting claims that the aircraft was struck by a missile from the Russian air defenses, leading to increasing calls for accountability from Baku.