Politics 16:30 06/01/2025 Region

Russia ‘guilty’ over downing of Azerbaijani plane, Aliyev says

Azerbaijan's president said on Monday that Russia was "guilty" over the downing of an airline last month that Baku says was shot by Russian air defences, AFP reported.

An Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 jet crash-landed in Kazakhstan on December 25, killing 38 of the 67 people on board, after being diverted from a scheduled landing in the southern Russian city of Grozny.

Moscow has admitted its air defences were operational in the area at the time, which it said was under attack from Ukrainian drones.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologised that the "incident" occurred in his country's air space but has not responded to claims the plane was hit by Russian weapons.

"The guilt for the death of Azerbaijani citizens lies with representatives of the Russian Federation," Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Monday, according to a statement published by his office.

Aliyev was meeting surviving crew and family members of crew who died in the incident.

The Azerbaijani leader, who is close to Putin, has issued rare fierce criticism of Moscow over the crash, demanding an apology, admission of guilt and the punishment of those found responsible for the "criminal" shooting of the plane.

On Monday he said Russia's "concealment" of the causes and "delusional versions" being put forward "cause us justifiable anger".

Initial statements by Russia's air transport agency that the plane had been forced to divert after a bird strike have triggered fury in Baku.

Aliyev said air defence measures for Grozny -- the capital of Russia's southern Chechnya region, where the plane was set to land -- were only announced after the plane had been "shot from the ground".

"If there was a danger to Russian airspace, then the captain of the plane should have been informed straight away," Aliyev said.

He also questioned why the plane was sent hundreds of kilometres (miles) across the Caspian Sea to the Kazakh city of Aktau for an emergency landing.

"Why it was directed to Aktau, we have no information," Aliyev said.

Azerbaijan says preliminary results of its investigation show the plane was hit accidentally by a Russian air defence missile.

Russia has opened its own criminal probe but has not said whether it agrees with Baku's assessment.

The plane's black boxes have been sent to Brazil for analysis.



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

17:13
Church explosion in Armenian town leaves priest injured
An emergency occurred in Armenia's Gegharkunik Province on Saturday. The Crisis Management Center of the Rescue Service was alerted to...
16:35
Homeland Party holds regular congress
The Homeland Party held its regular congress on Saturday, during which the reports of the party chairman and the audit commission were...
16:22
Nikol Pashinyan and Olaf Scholz meet in Munich
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday met with German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz within the framework of the...
15:35
'Yerevan is reading' on February 21-22
On February 21 and 22, Yerevan's Charles Aznavour Square will host the literary and musical event "Yerevan is Reading"....
15:14
Snow to persist in Armenia today, temps to rise
The wintry spell is expected to persist across Armenia on Saturday. Snowfall is forecast to cease on Sunday before resuming next week....
14:30
Armenian, Lithuanian defense chiefs outline new areas for cooperation
Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan on Saturday met with Lithuania's Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė. The...
14:13
Expert reacts to Armenian blogger's reported arrest in Belarus on Azerbaijan's warrant
Political analyst Ara Poghosyan has reacted to reports of an Armenian blogger’s arrest in Belarus at Azerbaijan’s request....
13:32
US 'trying to pick a fight' with Europe, EU's Kallas says
JD Vance's speech at the Munich Security Conference felt as if the US was "trying to pick a fight" with Europe, the EU's...
13:15
Armenia's U-16 football team starts training camp ahead of UEFA tournament
Armenia's U-16 football team will hold a training camp at the FFA Technical Center/Football Academy from February 15 to 22....
12:45
February 15 is International Childhood Cancer Day
International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) is a global collaborative campaign that takes place every year on February 15 to raise awareness about...
12:06
Lawyer warns of coordinated campaign against Gyumri mayoral candidate
Human rights lawyer Ruben Melikyan has warned of a coordinated online campaign targeting producer and public activist Ruben Mkhitaryan...
11:33
Armenian army chief joins roundtable discussion with global counterparts in Munich
On February 14, by the invitation of the Chief of the Defense Staff of Germany's Federal Armed Forces, General Carsten Breuer, the First...
11:15
Armenia celebrates Feast of St. Sarkis
Armenia celebrates the Feast of St. Sarkis the Warrior on Saturday. The day has been designated a youth holiday by Catholicos of All Armenians...
17:00
Expert: No German official among those welcoming Pashinyan in Munich
Information security expert Karen Vrtanesyan claims that no German officials were present to welcome Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan...
16:30
Armenian envoy, Georgian leader discuss regional issues
Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili hosted Armenian Ambassador Ashot Smbatyan at the Orbeliani Palace on Friday. Smbatyan...
16:14
Political analyst: Pashinyan close to admitting his 'historical crime'
Political analyst Suren Surenyants has commented on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s recent statements regarding the settlement plan for...
15:33
Temperatures set to rise on Saturday
The wintry spell is expected to persist across Armenia on Friday and Saturday.  Snowfall is forecast to cease on Sunday before...
15:06
Armenia received arbitration claim filed by Azerbaijan in Hague court
On February 12, Armenia received the Statement of Claim filed by Azerbaijan in an arbitration initiated under the 1979 Bern Convention...
14:34
Valentine's Day is here
After a weeklong celebration of Valentine’s Week, Valentine’s Day—celebrated and renowned as a day dedicated to expressing...
14:24
Paris gallery to host exhibition of Yervand Kochar artworks
The Minotaur Gallery (Galerie Le Minotaure) in Paris on Friday will open an exhibition showcasing the works of prominent Armenian artist...
13:45
Armenian MP: Turkey pursuing deep integration in Nakhichevan for over a decade
Azerbaijan’s push for the opening of a so-called corridor to Nakhichevan through Armenia’s Syunik Province is not only a consequence...
13:09
US embassies told to prepare for staff cuts
The State Department instructed United States embassies around the world to start planning for staff reductions on Wednesday, sources told ABC...
12:46
75th Berlin Film Festival kicks off
The 75th Berlin International Film Festival has kicked off in Germany. Works from Ukraine, South Korea and others are competing for the top...
12:27
Ruben Mkhitaryan to lead My Strong Community party list in Gyumri elections
Renowned producer and public figure Ruben Mkhitaryan will lead the My Strong Community party list in the upcoming municipal elections in...
11:46
Kanye West breaks silence amid Bianca Censori divorce
Kanye West has broken his silence amid his divorce from Bianca Censori with a creepy Instagram message Thursday. The rapper, 47, whose split...
11:36
Paris City Council calls for release of former Nagorno-Karabakh leaders
The Paris City Council on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution expressing deep concern over the “alarming situation” of...
11:26
Pashinyan's dangerous betrayal of Armenian history
By Vartan Oskanian, Armenia's former foreign minister Every nation carries the weight of its history. It shapes identity, informs...
17:13
Gold traders in Yerevan protest against tax hike
Gold traders in Yerevan once again gathered outside the Armenian government building on Thursday to protest against the recent tax hike...
16:35
Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process not stalled, deputy FM says
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan claims the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process has not come to a standstill, reiterating...
16:05
ZCMC strike: A provocation by ‘dark forces' or a labor dispute?
The protest by employees of the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) in Armenia’s Syunik Province, which many initially viewed...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}