Azerbaijan Demands Accountability After Russian Air Defense Shoots Down Civilian Plane

Azerbaijan has demanded an apology from Russia following the downing of an Azerbaijani civilian passenger plane, as confirmed by new information. Azerbaijani MP Rasim Musabeyov, a member of the International Relations Committee of the Azerbaijani parliament, emphasized that Moscow must take full responsibility for the incident. Musabeyov criticized efforts in Russia to obscure the truth about the tragedy, stating that those responsible should face legal consequences and compensation should be provided to the victims' families. He warned that failure to address the issue appropriately could strain bilateral relations.

The Embraer 190 passenger plane, operated by Azerbaijani Airlines, crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25, claiming the lives of 38 people. Azerbaijani officials allege that the plane was shot down by a Russian Pantsir air defense system. The aircraft had reportedly been diverted into Russian airspace during the operation of anti-aircraft systems responding to a drone attack. Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov corroborated this claim, asserting that Russian air defenses were responsible for the downing.

Comparisons were drawn to a 2020 incident during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict when Azerbaijan mistakenly shot down a Russian military helicopter. At the time, Azerbaijan promptly apologized, held those responsible accountable, and compensated the victims. Musabeyov argued that Russia should follow a similar course of action in this case, highlighting the necessity of maintaining civilized international relations. He stressed that air defense activities must be accompanied by adequate precautions, such as airport closures and public warnings, to avoid such tragedies.

Additional details have emerged from the...