Quote from Alex bobby on July 21, 2025, 5:30 AM

Azerbaijan to File International Lawsuits Against Russia Over Aktau Plane Crash, President Aliyev Says

In a bold and unprecedented move, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has announced that his country is preparing to take legal action against Russia in international courts over the tragic crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243, which killed 38 people near the Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25 last year. The announcement marks a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions between Baku and Moscow, and signals Azerbaijan’s determination to seek justice for the victims of the incident — even if that means a prolonged legal battle.

A Catastrophic Incident in the Caspian Skies

The crash of AZAL Flight 8243 sent shockwaves across the region late last year. The aircraft was en route from Baku to Grozny, a route connecting Azerbaijan’s capital with the capital of Russia’s Chechen Republic. Shortly after entering the airspace near the Caspian Sea, close to the Kazakh city of Aktau, the plane disappeared from radar. Emergency services later confirmed that all 38 people onboard had perished.

While the crash initially drew sympathy from around the world, Azerbaijan's investigation soon pointed to a much more disturbing cause. On February 4, a preliminary report released by the Azerbaijani government claimed the aircraft was shot down by a Russian Pantsir-S surface-to-air missile system — a charge that Moscow has neither confirmed nor denied in any public statement.

“As Clear As Day”: Aliyev Speaks Out

Speaking during a media event moderated by Euronews Middle East Bureau Chief Jane Witherspoon, President Aliyev stated unequivocally that Azerbaijan has full clarity on what caused the crash — and that Russia does too.

“We know what happened, and we can prove it. And we know that Russian officials know what happened,” Aliyev said. “The question is: why do they not do what any neighbour would do? Our requests or demands are absolutely natural: Admit that this accident was their fault.”

Aliyev said that Azerbaijan has formally requested explanations from Russian authorities, including direct appeals from the Azerbaijani prosecutor general to Russia’s Investigative Committee. The only response Baku has received is that "the investigation is ongoing," a position Aliyev described as evasive and unacceptable.

Seeking International Justice

With no satisfactory answers from Moscow, Baku is now preparing to launch lawsuits against Russia in international courts. President Aliyev confirmed that a legal dossier is being compiled and that Russia has already been informed of Azerbaijan’s intentions.

“Our patience is not unlimited,” he said. “We are ready to wait ten years, but justice must win.”

Aliyev drew a parallel with the ongoing international investigation into Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which vanished in 2014 and has still not been fully resolved more than a decade later. However, unlike MH370, the cause of the AZAL crash is, according to Aliyev, not a mystery.

“This situation being left in limbo does not help the development of bilateral relations between Russia and Azerbaijan,” he added.

Azerbaijan’s Demands

Aliyev laid out four specific demands that Azerbaijan expects Russia to fulfils:

1. An official admission of guilt from the Russian Federation.
2. Prosecution of those responsible for launching the missile that brought down the aircraft.
3. Compensation for the families of the 38 victims.
4. Reparations to Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) for the loss of the aircraft and related damages.

The president emphasised that these are not political demands, but human and legal ones. “We’re not asking for favours. We’re demanding accountability,” he said.

A Diplomatic Tightrope

Aliyev’s statement comes at a time of increasing geopolitical realignment in the region. In a separate statement issued just hours before addressing the AZAL incident, President Aliyev reiterated Azerbaijan’s unwavering support for Ukraine, declaring Baku’s commitment to Kyiv’s “territorial integrity, sovereignty, and internationally recognised borders.”

This position is particularly sensitive given Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, and further reflects Azerbaijan’s growing divergence from Moscow's orbit. While the two nations have shared complex historical, energy, and security ties, Baku is increasingly asserting its independence — not only in foreign policy but in the realm of legal and international accountability.

Russia’s Silence Raises Eyebrows

To date, Russia has issued no official comment acknowledging culpability in the crash, despite reports that Azerbaijani government sources had privately confirmed the cause — a Russian missile — just one day after the crash. The Kremlin has maintained silence on the matter, referring inquiries to its Investigative Committee, which has remained noncommittal.

International observers say that if Azerbaijan moves forward with the lawsuits, it could open a major test case for accountability involving state-sponsored military activity in peacetime airspace — a legal area fraught with complexity, precedent, and high political stakes.

Looking Forward

As Azerbaijan moves toward legal action on the international stage, the coming months will likely see increased diplomatic tension between Baku and Moscow. The success of Azerbaijan’s lawsuits will depend not only on the strength of its evidence — which Aliyev claims is irrefutable — but also on the willingness of international courts to hold a powerful nation like Russia accountable for a tragic, cross-border incident.

For the families of the 38 victims, this legal pursuit offers a glimmer of hope that truth and justice can prevail, even in the face of political resistance. For the global community, it raises critical questions about the accountability of state actions in civil airspace.

While the road to justice may be long, Azerbaijan’s insistence on clarity and accountability may set an important precedent — one that reinforces international norms, honours the victims, and upholds the rule of law in an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape.

Conclusion

The crash of AZAL Flight 8243 was a devastating tragedy that claimed dozens of lives, but it may also become a landmark case in international aviation and military law. President Ilham Aliyev’s resolve to pursue justice — even at the cost of strained relations with a powerful neighbour — sends a clear message: Azerbaijan will not allow silence or delay to stand in the way of accountability.

Whether through diplomacy or courtroom litigation, the road ahead promises to be long and fraught. But as Aliyev put it, “We are ready to wait ten years — justice must win.” The world, and especially the families of the victims, will now wait to see whether justice can prevail in this most delicate of international disputes.

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Azerbaijan will file international lawsuits against Russia over the deadly Aktau plane crash, President Aliyev announces, demanding accountability and justice for the 38 victims.