During their first official meeting in a year, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held talks in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, where they began their conversation with the tragic AZAL Embraer 190 plane crash that occurred in December 2024. The incident, which killed 39 people, including seven Russian citizens, had strained relations between Russia and Azerbaijan.
Putin: Ukrainian Drone and Missile Debris Caused the Tragedy
Putin explained that the causes of the crash were linked, in part, to the presence of a Ukrainian drone operating in the same airspace. According to him, two air defense missiles exploded near the aircraft, and debris from the blasts likely struck the AZAL liner. The plane, traveling from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, after being unable to land in Chechnya due to drone attacks.
“Our duty, I will repeat once again, as we agreed from the beginning, is to give an objective assessment of everything that happened and announce the true cause,”
— said President Putin, emphasizing that Russia continues to assist in the investigation and will provide all necessary support in compensating the victims’ families.
Russia Promises Legal Evaluation and Accountability
The Russian leader confirmed that Moscow will conduct a legal evaluation of the actions of all officials involved in the incident. He reiterated that Russian investigators are working closely with their Azerbaijani counterparts to determine the exact sequence of events and ensure full transparency in the process.
Aliyev Expresses Gratitude to Putin
President Ilham Aliyev thanked Putin for the detailed update on the case, calling it an important step toward restoring trust between the two nations.
“Once again, thank you for this information,” Aliyev said during the talks, according to Minval Politika.
Russia Will Pay Compensations Accordingly
Vladimir Putin also stated that Russia would do everything necessary to provide compensation following the crash of the AZAL aircraft.
“The Russian side will do everything required in such tragic cases regarding compensations,” Putin said.
He once again expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the plane crash. He added that it was essential to establish and announce the true causes of the disaster.
Baku Reports Details of Investigation
The Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan, Kamran Aliyev, earlier stated that the investigation into the crash of the AZAL aircraft was still ongoing.
“At present, the criminal case regarding the crash of the AZAL plane continues. (...) We hope that the investigation will reach a logical conclusion," said the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General, noting that the inquiry is being conducted jointly by Baku, Moscow, and Astana.
Background: Crisis in Relations After the Crash
The meeting in Dushanbe marks the first high-level dialogue between Russia and Azerbaijan since diplomatic tensions erupted in early 2025. The crisis began after the December 2024 crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) jet, when conflicting statements from both sides over responsibility and investigation procedures led to a chill in bilateral relations. Analysts note that the Dushanbe meeting could signal a gradual normalization of ties between the two countries.
