Azerbaijan Blames Russia for Plane Crash

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has held Russia accountable for the downing of an Azerbaijan Airlines jet, which crashed on December 25, killing 38 people. During a meeting with victims' families, Aliyev reiterated demands for justice and transparency, asserting that the blame lies with Russian representatives. He criticized Russia's initial claims regarding the incident and emphasized the need for accountability and punishment for those responsible. The investigation is ongoing, with black boxes from the aircraft being decoded to uncover the full details of the tragedy. Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologized for the incident, attributing it to Russian air defenses responding to Ukrainian drone attacks. The crash investigation involves international aviation authorities to ensure thorough examination and future safety improvements.