Let's turn the page: Putin makes cynical comment on downed Azerbaijani plane
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he hopes for a turning of the page in relations with Azerbaijan following the tragedy involving the Azerbaijani airline AZAL, while speaking to journalists.
Putin publicly claimed that there was supposedly no crisis in Russia-Azerbaijan relations over the downing of the Azerbaijani plane.
"If there had been a crisis, there would not have been growth in trade and economic ties. There was a crisis of emotions because we faced a very serious event, a tragedy," Putin said.
He added that he hopes for improved relations, noting that there are "big plans" regarding Azerbaijan.
"I hope we have turned this page and will continue to develop our contacts and major plans without any complications," he said.
AZAL plane crash in Kazakhstan: what is known
On December 25, 2024, in the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, an Embraer 190 passenger plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) on the Baku–Grozny route crashed. Of the 67 people on board, 38 died.
During the investigation, it was revealed that in Grozny, where drones were being shot down that day, the plane may have been hit. Later, Azerbaijan officially confirmed that the crash was caused by a Russian missile.
More than six months passed after the tragedy before Putin apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Only on October 9, Putin admitted that Russia had shot down the plane.
Full details on the crash are available in the material by RBC-Ukraine.
