Rasim Musabayov, a member of the Azerbaijani parliament, has demanded an apology and accountability from Russia following the tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet in Kazakhstan, according to Turan news agency on December 26.
"The plane was shot down over Russian territory, in the sky above Grozny. There's no way to deny it," Musabayov stated.
He added that some in Russia are attempting to cover up the incident through media manipulation.
According to Turan, Musabayov believes that Russia should instead take responsibility for its actions and offer an apology.
"Those who committed this act should be held criminally responsible. Compensation should be paid to the families of the victims and those who were injured. If this doesn't happen, then our relations will inevitably deteriorate," Musabayov warned.
He reminded that when a Russian military helicopter was shot down during the 44-day war in 2020, Azerbaijan apologized, announced that the perpetrators would be held accountable, and paid compensation.
"These are civilized relations. When an air defense system is activated, the airport should be closed, and there should be a warning to prevent any aircraft from entering the area. Therefore, the guilty parties must be held accountable," Musabayov emphasized.
On December 25, an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) flight crashed in Aktau, Kazakhstan. At least 38 people died in the plane crash. Azerbaijani government sources confirmed that the crash was likely caused by a Russian surface-to-air missile.
