Azerbaijan’s position on the crash of an AZAL passenger plane is principled, as the aircraft was downed due to the fault of Russia’s Defense Ministry, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said, Haqqin.az reports.

He noted that steps voiced by Russian President Vladimir Putin during the October 2025 meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia should be implemented.

“The plane crash occurred due to the fault of the Russian Ministry of Defense. We expect that all necessary measures will be taken in connection with this fact, that a legal assessment will be provided and that compensation will be paid,” Bayramov said.

The minister added that “at the highest level it has been declared that Azerbaijan’s position regarding the AZAL aircraft is firm and principled.”

On December 25, 2024, an Embraer 190 aircraft belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan while flying from Baku to Grozny. As a result of the accident, 38 passengers were killed and 29 survived.

On December 27, the airline stated that the aircraft had been subjected to “external physical and technical interference.” The company said preliminary findings of the official investigation indicated such impact.