Azerbaijan Criticizes Russia Over Plane Crash Investigation

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev demands accountability for the December 25 crash that killed 38 people, alleging Russian air defenses are to blame.

Azerbaijan Airlines flight carrying 67 people crash-landed in Kazakhstan on December 25, killing 38 passengers, after being diverted from Grozny in Russia's Chechnya region.
Azerbaijan claims the plane was accidentally struck by a Russian air defense missile, which was reportedly operational to counter Ukrainian drone attacks in the area.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences and apologized for the incident but has not admitted responsibility for the crash.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has accused Russia of concealing the cause of the crash and demanded transparency, accountability, and punishment for those responsible.
The plane's black boxes were analyzed in Brazil, and Kazakhstan will release the investigation's findings, which are expected to clarify the events leading to the crash.