President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan has escalated tensions with Russia, announcing plans to pursue legal action in international courts over the crash of an AZAL airline jet. His comments came ahead of the III Shusha Global Media Forum, which opened on Sunday, July 20, in the city of Khankendi (formerly Stepanakert).
According to Kommersant, Aliyev’s statements represent a sharp intensification of confrontation with Moscow. The President referred to the December 25, 2024, crash of an AZAL Embraer 190 en route from Baku to Grozny, which went down near Aktau, Kazakhstan. The tragedy claimed the lives of 38 of the 67 people on board.
“Let those who downed our aircraft be punished and pay compensation to the families. Those injured and the families of the victims must also be compensated for the AZAL plane,” said Aliyev.
Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan had received no clear explanation from Russia in over seven months. The Prosecutor General’s Office in Baku has repeatedly submitted requests to Russian Investigative Committee Chairman Alexander Bastrykin, but the only response has been “the investigation is ongoing.” Aliyev criticized this as unproductive but said Baku is prepared to wait as long as necessary for a full investigation.
The Azerbaijani president also demanded compensation for the victims’ families and for the lost aircraft, emphasizing that the responsible parties must be identified and held accountable.
Kremlin Responds to Growing Crisis
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded cautiously, saying Moscow would await official court rulings and expressed hope that the current difficult phase in bilateral relations would pass. He stressed the importance of ensuring respect for Russian citizens in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan Invites Trump to Mediate With Armenia
Amid heightened tensions with Moscow, Aliyev extended an invitation to U.S. President Donald Trump to mediate between Azerbaijan and Armenia. He emphasized the “vast potential for strengthening” U.S.-Azerbaijani relations and hinted at a shift in strategic orientation toward Washington.
Security Commission Formed in Baku
On July 21, Baku announced the formation of a national commission to monitor information infrastructure and assess threats amid deteriorating ties with Russia. The group includes members of the State Security Service and the State Special Communications Service. It will focus on enforcing legal compliance and recommending emergency measures in case of violations.
Aliyev Expresses Solidarity With Ukrainian Troops
On July 20, Ukrainian journalist Elena Kurbanova presented Aliyev with a box containing a collection of sleeve patches from Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers. Aliyev thanked them and voiced support for their cause.
“Thank you very much. Thank you for what you are doing. Keep going,” Aliyev told Ukrainian troops.
Russian Rights Council Calls for Retaliatory Measures
In response, Kirill Kabanov, a member of the Russian Presidential Human Rights Council, urged immediate retaliatory actions. He proposed imposing a visa regime on Azerbaijan and warned against letting provocations go unanswered.
“One must respond firmly right away so there’s no foolish desire to go further,” he said, calling past rhetoric about Russia-Azerbaijan partnership nothing more than “tired fairy tales and broken records.”
