Kazakhstan plane crash: Aliyev accuses Moscow of responsibility for downing.
Tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia: President Aliyev calls on Putin to admit guilt and punish those responsible for the accident that killed 38 people. The EU and NATO call for an international investigation.
Kazakhstan plane crash: Aliyev accuses Moscow of responsibility for downing.
Tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia after the crash of flight J2-8243
The downing of Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243, which crashed on December 25 near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, has sparked a diplomatic crisis between Baku and Moscow. The incident, which left 38 dead and 29 injured, has led Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to level heavy accusations at Russia, demanding clarity on the incident and punishment for those responsible.
The accident: what happened?
Flight J2-8243, an Embraer 190, had departed from the Azerbaijani capital Baku bound for Grozny, the capital of Russian Chechnya. However, the plane suddenly deviated from its route, heading towards Kazakhstan, where it attempted an emergency landing before crashing. At the site of the impact, a beach on the right bank of the Caspian Sea, the black boxes were recovered and will be analyzed to understand the causes of the tragedy.
Initially, Azerbaijan Airlines indicated a possible collision with a flock of birds as the cause of the disaster. However, this hypothesis was quickly withdrawn in favor of a more controversial one: an accidental downing by Russian anti-aircraft guns. Witness accounts and preliminary analyses speak of holes in the plane's fuselage, consistent with shots from weapons systems such as the Pantsir-S, used by Russia to defend itself from Ukrainian drones.
Aliyev's accusations and Putin's responses
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, in an interview with the state-run AzTV channel and reported by Tass, said that the flight had been hit by shells fired by Russia, although unintentionally. Aliyev accused Moscow of trying to cover up the incident and openly demanded that Russia admit its responsibility, punish the perpetrators and provide compensation to the victims.
“We are not saying it was done intentionally, but it was done,” Aliyev said, stressing the need for a transparent investigation. His position was bolstered by images of the plane showing clear signs of damage from bullets or missile fragments.
Vladimir Putin, after three days of silence, called the event a “tragic accident” in a phone call with Aliyev. He explained that at the time of the incident, Russian air defenses were active to repel a Ukrainian drone attack on Grozny, Mozdok and Vladikavkaz. However, he did not explicitly confirm that the Azerbaijani plane was hit by Russian defense systems, limiting himself to expressing his condolences.

international reactions
Aliyev and Putin's statements have attracted the attention of the international community. The European Union's High Representative, Kaja Kallas, called for an independent investigation and compared the incident to that of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was shot down by a surface-to-air missile in eastern Ukraine in 2014. NATO has also called for a full investigation, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken of clear similarities to a missile attack.
On the diplomatic front, Azerbaijan has created an international group of experts to analyze the causes of the accident. Aliyev communicated this decision directly to Putin, demonstrating the Azerbaijani government's determination to seek the truth.
The political and military implications
The incident has highlighted the complexity of relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. Despite the strategic alliance between the two countries, Baku seems intent on maintaining a firm position, demanding transparency and accountability. The incident comes amid growing tension between Moscow and the West, aggravated by the war in Ukraine and the intensive use of drones that have transformed the war scenario.
The downing of the Azerbaijani plane could also have repercussions on air operations in the region. Several airlines have already canceled flights to Russia, including Turkmenistan Airlines, which has suspended flights between Ashgabat and Moscow from December 30, 2024, to January 31, 2025.
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