Aliyev Accuses Russia of Cover-Up in Plane Crash

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has accused Russia of responsibility for the December 25 crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines jet, which killed 38 people, and demanded justice and accountability. During a meeting with surviving crew members and relatives of victims, Aliyev expressed disappointment over Russia's attempts to downplay the incident, stating that evidence suggests the plane was struck by a Russian missile. He criticized the lack of timely measures from Russian authorities, asserting that had proper coordination occurred, the tragedy could have been prevented. Aliyev's comments, delivered in Russian, indicated a serious diplomatic rift, as he called for complete transparency and humane treatment from Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized for the incident but did not accept responsibility, which has intensified frustration among Azerbaijani officials. The investigation continues, with the aircraft's black boxes sent to Brazil for analysis to clarify the circumstances surrounding the crash.