Mon Dec 30 17:41:26 UTC 2024: ## Russia Vows to Punish Those Responsible for Azerbaijan Airlines Crash
**ALMATY, Kazakhstan** – Following the December 25th crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane in Kazakhstan, which killed 38 of the 67 passengers onboard, Russia has pledged to identify and punish those responsible. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has accused Russia of shooting down the plane with air defense missiles, a claim Russian authorities haven’t directly confirmed but haven’t denied either.
Azerbaijan’s general prosecutor reported that Russia’s investigative committee promised “intensive measures” to bring the guilty parties to justice. President Aliyev previously demanded Russia accept responsibility and provide compensation to survivors. He publicly accused Russia of attempting to cover up the incident by offering alternative explanations, stating, “We can say with complete clarity that the plane was shot down by Russia,” although acknowledging it may not have been intentional.
Russian authorities attribute the incident to dense fog and a Ukrainian drone attack that triggered their air defense systems in the area. While President Putin offered an apology to President Aliyev, he stopped short of admitting Russian air defenses were responsible for the crash. The investigation continues.
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