| Submit your comments on this article |
| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Azerbaijan president accuses Russia of 'absurd' plane crash cover-up, says flight was 'shot down' |
| 2024-12-30 |
| [FoxNews] Russian President Vladimir Putin held a call with Azerbaijan's leader on Sunday Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused Russia of executing an "absurd" cover-up after its air defenses allegedly "shot down" a passenger plane last week. Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized for the "tragic incident" this weekend, but the Kremlin has not formally stated that Russian air defenses shot down the plane. At least 38 people were killed in the incident. "Our plane was shot down by accident," Aliyev told state television on Sunday. "Unfortunately, in the first three days we heard only absurd versions from Russia." "We witnessed clear attempts to cover up the matter," he added. A Kremlin statement said the incident occurred after Russian air defenses engaged with Ukrainian attack drones, but did not outright state that Russian forces had shot down the plane. Aliyev is a close ally with Putin's regime, and the pair held a phone call regarding the incident on Sunday. Neither party has released details of their conversation. Crew members and survivors of the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190-passenger jet say they heard at least one loud bang before the aircraft crashed on Christmas day. Related: Azerbaijan Airlines 12/29/2024 Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: December 28, 2024 Azerbaijan Airlines 12/29/2024 Putin apologizes to Azerbaijani leader for 'tragic incident' involving plane crash Azerbaijan Airlines 12/26/2024 Russian fascists shot down an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane flying from Baku to Grozny, Russia-occupied Chechnya |
| Posted by:Skidmark |