Azerbaijan has unleashed its fury over Russia’s response to a deadly 2024 plane crash, with President Ilham Aliyev leveling a charge of a cover-up against Moscow. The accusation came even as Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted his country’s role in the incident for the first time.
Putin, labeling the event a “tragedy,” conceded that Russian missiles were involved in the downing of the Azerbaijan Airlines jet. He claimed the friendly fire incident was a mistake made while targeting Ukrainian drones that were “meters away” from the plane, which crashed and killed 38 people.
For ten months since the December 25, 2024, disaster, Azerbaijan has waited for answers. The flight from Baku to Grozny went down in Kazakhstan, and the prolonged silence from Russia has severely damaged the bilateral relationship, which was already showing signs of strain.
Aliyev’s accusation that Russia tried to “hush up” the matter is a serious diplomatic blow, reflecting a complete loss of faith in Moscow’s intentions. The charge was made directly to Putin during a summit meeting, ensuring it was heard at the highest levels.
In response to the fury, Putin offered a path toward restitution. He promised that compensation would be provided for the 38 victims and that a legal review would be launched into the officials whose actions led to the tragic loss of life.
The Cover-Up Charge: Azerbaijan’s Fury Over Russia’s Crash Response
