Azerbaijan.US
Former Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Tofig Zulfugarov has warned that the absence of a transparent, internationally recognized investigation into a recent aviation tragedy is contributing to continued tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia.
Speaking in an interview with CBC television, Zulfuqarov said that while escalation is not in Azerbaijan’s interest, subsequent developments have failed to support earlier signals – including from Moscow – about the need to reduce tensions.
According to Zulfuqarov, even if Russia’s political leadership favors de-escalation, the key problem lies at the institutional level.
“If there is a declared intention to resolve the situation, the question remains why relevant structures are not taking concrete steps,” he said.
ICAO Rules and Due Process
Zulfuqarov stressed that, under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) procedures, the official results of investigations into aviation incidents must be conducted and published by the state responsible for the inquiry – in this case, Kazakhstan – within a defined timeframe.
“These results have not been made public,” he noted. “Yet, in the absence of such findings, Russia’s Investigative Committee has stated that it sees no elements of a crime. This creates a clear procedural contradiction.”
He questioned the legal basis for such statements, emphasizing that any conclusions should follow internationally accepted investigative standards. “If an internal investigation was conducted, it would be reasonable to understand its scope, methodology, and legal grounding,” Zulfuqarov said.
Parallel Legal Processes
The former foreign minister also pointed out that a criminal case has been opened by Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office, and that official communication channels between Azerbaijani and Russian law-enforcement bodies remain active.
However, he argued that the absence of transparent, ICAO-compliant findings undermines trust and complicates efforts to normalize relations.
“Without due process and recognized procedures, political assurances alone are insufficient,” Zulfuqarov said.
Political Consequences
Commenting on the Azerbaijani president’s absence from a recent informal CIS meeting, Zulfuqarov suggested that the lack of tangible progress in addressing these issues played a role. While acknowledging the president’s busy schedule, he noted that diplomatic contacts had taken place earlier and that expectations for de-escalation were not met.
“This is the result of processes that are not moving in a direction that would remove existing tensions,” he said.
Azerbaijan’s Position
Zulfuqarov concluded that Azerbaijan’s position remains straightforward and consistent: adherence to international law, respect for due process, and accountability in line with national legislation.
“Azerbaijan expects that all parties involved will act within legal frameworks and determine responsibility for the tragedy in a transparent and lawful manner,” he said.
