During a meeting in Dushanbe, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed beginning talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev by discussing the crash of the AZAL aircraft.
At the meeting on October 9, Putin once again expressed his condolences over the accident and reminded Aliyev that he had apologized during their earlier phone conversation following the tragedy.
“I would like to begin our meeting with the aviation accident that occurred in our airspace. During our first phone call after the incident, I not only apologized for the fact that the tragedy happened in Russian skies but also expressed my deepest condolences to the families of the victims. The investigation is coming to an end, and now we can already speak about the causes of this disaster,” Putin said.
The Russian president also elaborated on the reasons behind the crash:
“There were several causes. The first is that a Ukrainian drone was in the air at the time. On the night of the tragedy, we observed three such drones crossing the border. The second reason relates to technical failures in Russia’s air defense system. There is no doubt that in such tragic situations, everything necessary — including compensation — will be carried out by Russia, and all responsible officials will face legal evaluation of their actions.”
On December 25, 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane flying from Baku to Grozny crashed near Aktau in Kazakhstan.
Of the 67 people on board, 42 were Azerbaijani, 16 Russian, 6 Kazakh, and 3 Kyrgyz citizens. 38 people were killed, and 29 survived.
In June 2025, tensions rose after two ethnic Azerbaijanis detained during a police operation in Yekaterinburg died under torture, and several others were injured. Baku condemned the incidents as “ethnic pressure” and harshly criticized Russian authorities. Additionally, the persecution of Azerbaijani-linked businessmen in Russia — including raids, arrests, and business interference — fueled further discontent.
In response, Azerbaijan shut down the Baku office of “Sputnik”, arrested several Russian citizens on espionage charges, and suspended the activities of the “Russian House” cultural center.
Putin also spoke about bilateral cooperation, noting:
“Despite the tragedy and all the surrounding issues, our economic relations have been developing successfully. Last year, we achieved around 6% growth, and this year it has already exceeded 16%, which is an excellent result. Thanks to your attention, our humanitarian ties have always remained strong. We will do everything to preserve this positive dynamic.”
The Russian president expressed optimism about the future of Moscow-Baku relations:
“I hope that our cooperation will not only be restored but will also continue in the spirit of our alliance. We never forget the treaty we signed recently and will do our utmost to ensure that all its key provisions are implemented,” Putin said.
President Ilham Aliyev thanked Putin for his personal attention to the AZAL plane crash investigation and stressed the importance of continuing economic cooperation:
“I would like to thank you personally for keeping this situation under your attention. We have discussed it many times, and our teams remain in constant contact. We had no doubt that the investigation under your supervision would be conducted objectively. Thank you once again for giving this matter special attention during our meeting,” Aliyev said.
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