MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin admitted responsibility Thursday for the downing of an Azerbaijani jetliner in December that killed 38 people, during a meeting with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Putin stated that Russian air defense missiles, aimed at a Ukrainian drone, mistakenly hit an Azerbaijan Airlines plane on December 25, 2024, near Grozny, Chechnya. The Embraer 190 was reportedly targeted while preparing to land in Grozny, resulting in a crash in western Kazakhstan.
Authorities confirmed the plane was struck accidentally by Russian fire, which generated significant diplomatic tension between Moscow and Baku. Following the incident, Putin apologized to Aliyev, calling it a “tragic incident,” but did not initially accept full responsibility.
Putin pledged to investigate and hold accountable those responsible, promising compensation to the victims' families. He reported that technical malfunctions caused the incident, with missiles exploding nearby the passenger aircraft.
Aliyev thanked Putin for the acknowledgment and expressed hope for improved relations and a positive bilateral agenda. Both leaders discussed restoring ties strained by recent events, including police actions against ethnic Azerbaijanis in Russia.
The meeting occurred during a summit of former Soviet nations, highlighting the ongoing geopolitical complexities in the region.