Azerbaijan to Take Legal Action Against Russia Over AZAL Plane Crash
Azerbaijan plans to file international lawsuits against Russia over the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) aircraft in Kazakhstan’s Aktau in December 2024. President Ilham Aliyev announced the decision during a public address, citing the lack of cooperation from Moscow.
Legal pressure builds over unresolved investigation
Aliyev said that the incident is «as clear as day» and criticised Russia’s refusal to provide meaningful answers for over seven months. According to him, the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan sent multiple official requests to the head of Russia’s Investigative Committee. The only response has been that the «investigation is ongoing.»
«This is not how a responsible neighbour behaves. We demand truth, justice, and accountability,» Aliyev stated.
Azerbaijan wants justice and compensation
President Aliyev confirmed that Azerbaijan has started preparing a full legal dossier. The government will submit it to international legal institutions. He also notified Russian officials of this move.
Aliyev drew parallels with the investigation into the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash, which took over a decade to reach conclusions.
«We are ready to wait ten years if needed. But justice must prevail,» he said.
Baku’s demands include:
- Official recognition of responsibility;
- Punishment for those behind the attack;
- Compensation to victims’ families;
- Financial damages to AZAL for the lost aircraft.
What happened in Aktau
On December 25, 2024, an AZAL Embraer jet crashed near Aktau Airport while attempting an emergency landing. The plane was en route from Baku to Grozny.
There were 67 people on board — 62 passengers and 5 crew members. The crash killed 38 and injured 29.
President Aliyev emphasised that Azerbaijan knows what happened and that Russian officials also have full information.
«The current silence does not help bilateral relations,» he warned.
Kursiv Uzbekistan reports that Rustem Umerov, who was born in Uzbekistan, has been appointed Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council (NSDC).
