Baku, September 5, 2025
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has sharply criticized Moscow’s latest statements on payouts related to the downing of an AZAL passenger plane, accusing the Russian side of misleading the public and distorting the nature of the issue.
Insurance vs. State Compensation
Foreign Ministry spokesman Aykhan Hajizade said Russia’s September 4 press release, which described insurance payments as a “full settlement of compensation claims,” creates confusion. He stressed that insurance coverage provided by a Russian company to AZAL and passengers stems from the airline’s insurance contract, while Baku’s demand for compensation is directed at the Russian government as the party responsible for the shootdown.
According to Hajizade, the insurance mechanism was triggered six months ago because international insurers do not operate in Russia, forcing AZAL to contract through a Russian provider.
Linkage to Detained Russian Citizens Rejected
The ministry also dismissed as “mistaken” comments by the Russian MFA spokesperson, who tied the detention of 13 Russian citizens in Azerbaijan in July 2025 to the deterioration in bilateral relations and suggested their release could become a condition for normalization. Baku underlined that tensions were caused above all by the downing of the AZAL aircraft and the subsequent stance of Russian officials.
Broader Grievances Cited
The statement further pointed to ethnically motivated attacks against Azerbaijanis in Russia, including beatings and killings in Yekaterinburg, as well as measures by certain Russian state structures “directed against Azerbaijan.”
Clear Distinction Drawn
“Insurance payouts and Azerbaijan’s compensation demands from the Government of Russia are fundamentally different issues, and any attempt to equate them is unacceptable,” the Foreign Ministry concluded.
