Azerbaijan to file international lawsuits against Russia over Aktau plane crash, president says

By&nbspEuronews

Published connected 20/07/2025 - 13:46 GMT+2 •Updated 21/07/2025 - 7:07 GMT+2

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has announced that his state is preparing to record lawsuits successful planetary courts against Russia regarding the Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 plane clang adjacent Aktau connected 25 December past year.

The level was en way from Baku to Grozny, and crashed adjacent the Kazakh metropolis of Aktau connected the Caspian Sea, sidesplitting 38 people. 

Aliyev said connected Saturday that adjacent though the circumstances of the incidental are "as wide arsenic day", Azerbaijan has received nary meaningful effect from Russia, 7 months aft the crash.

Aliyev claimed that Azerbaijan has a wide knowing of what happened to the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane, "we cognize what happened, and we tin beryllium it. And we cognize that Russian officials cognize what happened," Aliyev said speaking to media astatine a property lawsuit moderated by Jane Witherspoon, Euronews Bureau Chief successful the Middle East.

"The question is: wherefore bash they not bash what immoderate neighbour would do? Our requests oregon demands are perfectly natural: Admit that this mishap was their fault," helium remarked.

Aliyev noted that the Azerbaijani authoritative wide has sent requests to the caput of Russia’s Investigative Committee, and has frankincense acold lone been informed that "the probe is ongoing." He described this stance arsenic counterproductive and reaffirmed Baku’s volition to question planetary justice.

Azerbaijan has truthful informed Russia of its mentation of a dossier for a corresponding lawsuit, said Aliyev.

Referring to the probe into the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 crash, which claimed 239 victims successful 2014 and whose consequent enquiry has lasted implicit a decade, helium said "We are acceptable to hold 10 years, but justness indispensable win. And unfortunately, the situation, which is presently successful limbo, does not lend to the improvement of bilateral relations betwixt Russia and Azerbaijan."

Aliyev lays retired Azerbaijan's demands

Azerbaijan's demands, according to Aliyev, are a blameworthy plea from Russia, prosecution of those liable for downing the plane, outgo of compensation to the families of the victims and compensation for damages suffered by AZAL.

On 4 February, a preliminary authoritative study released by the Azerbaijani authorities showed that the level had so been changeable down by a Russian Pantsir-S aerial defence system.

Azerbaijani authorities sources exclusively confirmed to Euronews as aboriginal arsenic 26 December that a Russian surface-to-air rocket caused the level to crash.

Aliyev's connection comes conscionable hours aft helium reiterated Baku's unwavering enactment to Ukraine.

"Azerbaijan unequivocally supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and internationally recognised borders," the Azerbaijani person said successful a connection arsenic reported by section media.