Azerbaijan President Calls on Russia to Admit Downing Passenger Plane Killing 38

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has publicly urged Russia to formally acknowledge that it accidentally shot down an Azerbaijani passenger plane in December 2024, resulting in 38 deaths. Despite President Vladimir Putin's apology for the 'tragic incident' during Russian air defense operations against Ukrainian drones, Moscow has stopped short of admitting responsibility. Aliyev demands that Russia hold those responsible accountable, provide compensation to the victims' families, and reimburse the destroyed aircraft's cost, all within the framework of international law and good-neighborly relations. The crash occurred near Aktau, Kazakhstan, after the flight diverted from southern Russia amid drone attacks, with evidence suggesting a Russian surface-to-air missile caused the downing. The incident has exacerbated already tense relations between Moscow and Baku, which have deteriorated due to recent detentions of ethnic Azerbaijanis in Russia. Additionally, Aliyev proposed opening a transit corridor through Armenia to connect Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhchivan as part of broader regional peace efforts.