Russian Community in Azerbaijan demands accountability following Baku-Grozny flight tragedy

The Russian Community in Azerbaijan has issued an official statement regarding the investigation into the tragic crash of the AZAL aircraft traveling from Baku to Grozny, which went down in Aktau, Kazakhstan.

Anastasia Lavrina, the First Vice Chair of the Russian Community in Azerbaijan, told Caliber.Az that the crash, which claimed the lives of passengers from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, has profoundly impacted not only the nations involved but the entire world.

"No one can remain indifferent to such a loss," Lavrina remarked. "As soon as the tragedy was reported, the Russian Community in Azerbaijan immediately expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims, sharing in their pain and grief, and wishing a swift recovery to those injured."

Lavrina also highlighted the heroism and professionalism of the flight crew and pilots, whose actions saved numerous lives.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with two flight recorders having already been recovered and the process of decoding them underway. The statement stressed the importance of awaiting the final results to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the incident. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has emphasized the need for a thorough and objective investigation to ensure justice is served.

Lavrina went on to state that, should the investigation confirm the theory that the aircraft was shot down by a Russian air defence missile, it would be fair for the Russian side to offer not only an official apology but also to conduct a full and transparent inquiry. This should identify those responsible and ensure they are held accountable.

The Russian Community also pointed out that, in cases of a potential drone attack, airspace should be closed, and all aircraft, particularly civilian planes, should be warned in advance. If there had been a threat of a drone attack on Grozny, the Azerbaijani pilots should have been notified in a timely manner. The failure to do so, they argued, warrants accountability for the individual responsible for this oversight.

"The most important thing now is to restore justice and ensure that such an incident never happens again," Lavrina concluded.

By Vafa Guliyeva