Haber Global: Azerbaijani president’s determination forces Russia to apologize following plane crash

A recent report by Turkish news channel Haber Global highlights the significant diplomatic fallout following the tragic crash of an Azerbaijani Airlines (AZAL) passenger plane on December 25.

The crash, which occurred near the Kazakh city of Aktau, has drawn international attention, with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's unwavering stance leaving Russia with no option but to apologize, the report by Haber Global says, Caliber.Az reports.

The report underscores that Russia initially refrained from taking responsibility for the incident, with some circles within the Russian government proposing alternative scenarios. However, President Aliyev's determined leadership and clear articulation of Azerbaijan's demands forced Moscow to issue an apology the following day. Aliyev's firm position on the matter has been widely acknowledged, with many praising his handling of the diplomatic crisis.

The crash involved an Embraer aircraft, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, which was en route from Baku to Grozny. Tragically, out of the 67 people aboard, 38 lost their lives, while 29 survived. Early investigations suggest that the plane may have been shot down in Russian airspace.

By Vafa Guliyeva