Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is providing “every possible form of assistance” in investigating the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) aircraft that went down earlier this year, killing all on board.
Speaking at a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Dushanbe, Putin said the investigation is nearing completion.
“We are fully assisting the inquiry as agreed. The investigation is close to its conclusion,” the Russian leader said.
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Putin Cites Two Contributing Factors
Putin outlined several factors that, according to preliminary findings, led to the tragedy.
“First, there was a Ukrainian drone in the airspace. We tracked three drones that crossed into Russian territory on the night of the incident,” he said.
“Second, there were technical malfunctions in Russia’s air defense system.”
He added that two missiles launched by Russian air defenses did not directly hit the aircraft, noting that the damage was likely caused by debris fragments rather than the warheads themselves.
Aliyev Thanks Putin for Personal Oversight
President Ilham Aliyev expressed appreciation to Putin for personally overseeing the investigation process.
“I would like to thank you for keeping this situation under your personal control. We had no doubt that the investigation would be conducted objectively,” Aliyev said.
“It means a lot that you chose to address this issue during our meeting.”
Trade and Humanitarian Ties Discussed
Beyond the tragic incident, the two presidents also discussed economic and humanitarian cooperation between Baku and Moscow.
Aliyev noted “positive dynamics” in bilateral trade, while Putin emphasized that humanitarian ties between the two countries have traditionally remained strong.
“Thanks to your personal attention, humanitarian cooperation has always been at a high level,” Putin said.
“We will do everything to ensure that this positive dynamic continues.”
Putin Promises Legal Review and Compensation
The Russian leader also pledged that Moscow will carry out a legal review of the actions of all responsible officials and ensure compensation for the victims’ families.
“It is our duty to provide an objective assessment of everything that happened and to determine the true causes,” Putin said.
“All necessary steps will be taken from the Russian side regarding compensation, and there will be a legal evaluation of the actions of officials involved.”
Putin added that while moral support cannot bring back lost lives, it remains vital to offer justice and transparency.
“No words can return those who have died, but we must ensure that the investigation is fair and complete,” he concluded.
