Azerbaijan to Take Russia to International Court Over Downed Passenger Jet

Azerbaijan Plans Legal Action Against Russia Over Passenger Jet Crash

Azerbaijan is preparing to file an appeal with an international court over Russia’s alleged involvement in the downing of an Azerbaijani passenger jet that resulted in 38 fatalities, according to reports from The Guardian and APA news agency.

The crash occurred on December 25 near Aktau, Kazakhstan, after the Azerbaijan Airlines flight rerouted over the Caspian Sea from southern Russia. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused Russia of mistakenly shooting down the aircraft using air defense systems and criticized Moscow for attempting to suppress the incident.

Russian President Vladimir Putin later issued a rare apology but did not admit responsibility. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan claims to have gathered "facts and evidence" and insists that those responsible have been identified.

The situation echoes past incidents, with Baku accusing Russia of trying to create a “Malaysia Boeing-2” scenario, referencing Moscow’s denial of responsibility for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine. As diplomatic tensions rise, the case could mark a significant shift in Russia’s influence over its post-Soviet neighbors.

REUTERS/Azamat Sarsenbayev/File Photo