Tensions flared between Russia and Azerbaijan as President Ilham Aliyev accused Moscow of attempting to “hush up” its involvement in a deadly 2024 plane crash, even as President Vladimir Putin publicly admitted Russia’s role for the first time. The dramatic exchange took place at a summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, ten months after the disaster.
Putin, calling the crash a “tragedy,” conceded that Russian missiles were responsible. He explained that the air defense systems were targeting Ukrainian drones which then detonated “meters away” from the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet. This friendly fire incident led to the crash that killed 38 of the 67 people on board.
The flight from Baku to Grozny went down in western Kazakhstan on December 25, 2024. For months, speculation centered on Russian involvement, a theory now confirmed by Putin himself. The incident has been a major source of diplomatic strain, severely souring previously amicable relations between the neighboring countries.
President Aliyev’s sharp criticism highlights Baku’s deep frustration with Moscow’s lack of transparency over the past ten months. The relationship has been on a downward spiral, exacerbated by other issues including the arrests of ethnic Azerbaijanis in Russia and vice versa, creating a climate of mistrust.
While facing the accusation of a cover-up, Putin attempted to de-escalate the situation. He promised that Russia would provide full and adequate compensation for the loss of life and that the officials whose actions led to the crash would be subject to a formal legal review.
