Ukrainian media spotlight Azerbaijani president’s resolute statements on deadly plane crash

Ukrainian media outlets have extensively covered the statements made by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev regarding the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of Azerbaijani citizens.

The President addressed the families of the deceased crew members and the surviving flight attendants in a meeting that garnered widespread attention across influential Ukrainian news platforms, Caliber.Az reports citing local media.

Ukrainian news agencies such as Ukrinform, RBC-Ukraine, UNIAN (УНИАН), Interfax-Ukraine, Korrespondent, and European Pravda, along with dozens of other media outlets, have featured President Aliyev’s remarks concerning Azerbaijan’s official stance on the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane near Aktau.

The reports cite the Azerbaijani President stating that the responsibility for the deaths of Azerbaijani citizens in the crash lies with the representatives of the Russian Federation.

President Aliyev emphasized Azerbaijan's demand for justice, the punishment of those responsible, full transparency, and humane treatment throughout the investigation. He also confirmed that the process of deciphering the black boxes was ongoing, with preliminary results expected to be released soon, ensuring that the truth would be revealed.

Additionally, the publications highlighted President Aliyev’s condemnation of what he described as attempts by Russian state structures to cover up the incident and promote absurd explanations. He expressed his surprise, regret, and indignation over these actions, stressing that innocent lives were lost in the crash.

The crash occurred on December 25, when an Embraer aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, flying from Baku to Grozny, tragically went down near Aktau. The flight had 67 people on board, including 37 Azerbaijani, 16 Russian, 6 Kazakh, and 3 Kyrgyz nationals. Tragically, 38 people lost their lives, while 29 survivors were rescued.

By Vafa Guliyeva