Minval Politika uncovers who ordered the downing of AZAL flight

The Azerbaijan State News Agency

Minval Politika has obtained information identifying the individual who issued the order to down the AZAL flight. The key figure involved not only evaded accountability but was subsequently promoted.

According to the findings, the order to destroy the AZAL EMBRAER 190 aircraft was issued by Major General Tolopilo, commander of the 51st Air Defence Division.

Lieutenant Colonel Orlyansky, who received the order and relayed it to Captain Paladichuk, confirmed this account. The missile unit in question was under the operational command of General Tolopilo, a fact documented in a report dated 16 December 2024.

The general avoided responsibility by placing the blame on air traffic controllers and asserting that the missiles had “self-destructed”- a claim that was later refuted by an internal investigation. Despite the incident, General Tolopilo was promoted.

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