Sun Dec 29 12:58:47 UTC 2024: ## Azerbaijan Accuses Russia of Shooting Down Airliner, Demands Apology
**Baku, Azerbaijan** – Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has accused Russia of shooting down an Azerbaijan Airlines jet that crashed this week, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. In a televised address on Sunday, President Aliyev stated that the plane was hit by accidental fire from Russia near Grozny, resulting in significant damage to the tail and loss of control. He cited evidence of electronic warfare systems interfering with the aircraft and presented the damage as proof of ground fire.
While Russian President Vladimir Putin offered an apology on Saturday, he refrained from acknowledging responsibility for the incident. President Aliyev criticized Moscow’s attempts to downplay its involvement, suggesting a cover-up and demanding a formal admission of guilt. He emphasized that the incident was accidental and not an act of terror, but insisted that a timely apology and transparent public explanation were necessary given the friendly relations between the two countries.
Russia previously attributed the crash to a Ukrainian drone attack on Grozny, the intended destination of the flight which ultimately crashed in western Kazakhstan. The United States had previously indicated early evidence suggesting the plane was shot down. The Azerbaijani government’s assertion places significant pressure on Russia to provide a comprehensive explanation and accept responsibility for the tragic loss of life.
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