Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that Russia was responsible for the tragic crash of an Azerbaijani plane, resulting in the deaths of 38 individuals on Christmas Day. Initially denying any involvement, Putin revealed that Russian air defenses mistakenly fired at the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet while targeting a Ukrainian drone. This error caused two missiles to explode near the aircraft, leading to what Putin described as a “technical malfunction.”
In a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Putin publicly accepted responsibility for the incident, aiming to ease tensions between the two nations following the tragedy. The aircraft, en route from Baku to Grozny in Chechnya, crashed near Aktau in Kazakhstan, claiming the lives of 38 out of 67 passengers on December 25. During a summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Putin promised to hold accountable those responsible for the crash and provide compensation to the victims’ families.
Putin expressed his commitment to offering compensation and holding officials accountable for their actions while acknowledging that no words could bring back the lives lost in the tragedy. Aliyev thanked Putin for his oversight of the situation, having previously accused Moscow of attempting to conceal the incident.
The relationship between Moscow and Baku has been strained by the crash, further exacerbated by previous incidents involving ethnic Azerbaijanis in Russian custody and arrests of Russians in Azerbaijan. Both leaders expressed hope for restored cooperation and a positive response to bilateral discussions, particularly given the strategic importance of Azerbaijan as a key trade route for Russia, especially in light of its conflict with Ukraine.
Turkey, a close ally of Azerbaijan, has also emerged as a vital economic partner for Russia amid Western sanctions. The two countries share significant trade ties, with Russia being a primary market for Azerbaijani agricultural exports and hosting a sizable Azerbaijani diaspora population.