Putin Assures Azerbaijan’s Aliyev of Compensation Following Fatal Crash Linked to Russian Air Defenses
Published On 9 Oct 2025
During a meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Russian President Vladimir Putin assured Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev that Russia will provide compensation for the tragic downing of an Azerbaijani passenger aircraft last year, an event that had severely impacted diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The incident, which occurred nearly ten months ago, involved an Azerbaijani Airlines flight traveling from Baku to the Chechen capital, Grozny, on December 25, 2024. The plane was mistakenly targeted by Russian air defense systems, leading to a crash near Aktau in western Kazakhstan after a failed emergency landing attempt. Of the 67 passengers and crew onboard, 38 lost their lives.
Azerbaijani officials have criticized Moscow for refusing to grant the distressed aircraft permission to land on Russian soil, which forced the pilots to attempt the hazardous landing in Kazakhstan. Initially, Putin expressed regret over the “tragic incident” but stopped short of accepting full responsibility on behalf of Russia.
However, in their recent face-to-face discussion, Putin explicitly acknowledged Russia’s involvement, explaining that Russian air defense missiles detonated close to the plane following incursions by Ukrainian drones into Russian airspace. He emphasized that Russia is committed to delivering fair compensation to Azerbaijan and ensuring a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
“In such sorrowful situations, the Russian side will fulfill all necessary obligations regarding compensation and provide a legal evaluation of the matter,” Putin stated. “It is our responsibility to conduct an objective review of the events and uncover the true causes.”
President Aliyev expressed appreciation for Putin’s attention to the investigation’s progress, thanking him for prioritizing the issue during their meeting. The crash had been a significant source of tension between the two former Soviet republics for several months.
Despite past difficulties, Putin described Azerbaijan as a “trustworthy” partner, highlighting ongoing collaboration between Moscow and Baku in the realms of security and defense.
