Russia must accept responsibility for the Azerbaijan Airlines crash near Aktau that killed 38 people, Azerbaijani MP Tural Ganjali has said. His comments come as Azerbaijan marks the first anniversary of the disaster, which occurred on 25 December 2024.
The Embraer 190 aircraft, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, was flying from Baku to Grozny when it crashed.
“One year after the Azerbaijani Airlines passenger plane crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, the incident is obviously an unpunished crash for which Russia is directly responsible,” Ganjali told AnewZ in Baku.
Preliminary findings cited by Azerbaijani officials say the aircraft sustained critical damage after being struck by fragments from a Russian air defence system while approaching Grozny.
Ganjali said Russia’s initial response was marked by delays, alleging that requests from the flight crew to land at airports inside Russia were refused after the aircraft was damaged, forcing the pilots to divert to Kazakhstan.
He added that Moscow only acknowledged the involvement of its air defence systems months later, despite repeated assertions by Azerbaijani authorities.
“Russia’s response demonstrated hostile intent towards Azerbaijan,” Ganjali said, accusing Russian authorities of attempting to deflect responsibility by directing the damaged aircraft away from Russian territory.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport has said interim findings show the aircraft suffered external damage consistent with warhead fragments, while stressing that the investigation is focused on aviation safety rather than assigning legal liability. The final report is expected in early 2026.
Ganjali said the lack of a clear admission had hindered accountability and delayed justice for the victims’ families.
“We have not seen any meaningful response from the Russian authorities, only references to investigation results that are not accepted by Azerbaijan,” he said.
Ganjali linked the crash to what he described as broader problems in Russia’s relations with Azerbaijan, saying Moscow’s handling of the incident had damaged bilateral trust.
His comments echo remarks by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who has said Azerbaijan is considering international legal action and has “clear information” about the circumstances of the crash.
Ganjali said Russia needed to address what he described as policy failures in order to rebuild confidence and regional security cooperation.
The renewed calls for accountability came as Azerbaijan marked the anniversary of the disaster with memorial events for the victims.
Memorial events were held on 25 December in Baku and Aktau to honour those killed in the crash.
In Baku, a moment of silence was observed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, while residents and diplomats laid flowers at the crash site in Aktau.
As families continue to seek answers, the final investigation report and Russia’s response remain central to political and public debate in Azerbaijan and the wider region.
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