Azerbaijan Confronts Russia Over Downed Plane as Regional Tensions Rise

Azerbaijan is escalating its dispute with Russia over the downing of an Azerbaijani passenger plane, accusing Moscow of evading responsibility. Baku is reportedly preparing legal action, further straining relations amid Russia’s declining regional influence. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan also took diplomatic steps, including closing a Russian cultural center and sending aid to Ukraine.

CONTENTS:

• Azerbaijan Escalates Dispute with Russia Over Downed Passenger Plane, Challenging Moscow’s Regional Influence
• Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry Releases Weekly Review Videos

Azerbaijan Confronts Russia Over Downed Plane as Regional Tensions Rise

Azerbaijan Escalates Dispute with Russia Over Downed Passenger Plane, Challenging Moscow’s Regional Influence

Azerbaijan Confronts Russia Over Downed Plane Azerbaijan is intensifying its rare standoff with Russia over the downing of an Azerbaijani passenger plane, signaling Moscow’s waning influence in the region. The incident, which occurred on December 25 near Aktau, Kazakhstan, claimed 38 lives after the Azerbaijan Airlines flight was rerouted over the Caspian Sea from southern Russia.

Following the crash, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused Russia of mistakenly shooting down the plane with its air defense systems and criticized Moscow for attempting to conceal the incident. Although Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an unusual apology, he stopped short of accepting responsibility.

Tensions have continued to escalate as Moscow struggles to manage the situation. This week, Azerbaijan’s state-linked APA news agency reported that Baku is preparing to take legal action in an international court, accusing Russia of evading accountability. The article, which observers believe had government approval, alleged that Azerbaijani authorities know who ordered and executed the attack and likened Russia’s response to its handling of the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.

Kazakh investigators recently released a report indicating external damage to the aircraft, including perforations in the fuselage and damage to key systems. While the report did not explicitly confirm the cause, Western experts have suggested the plane was likely shot down from Russian territory. The Kremlin has urged caution, stating that conclusions should not be drawn prematurely.

Azerbaijani officials, frustrated by Moscow’s lack of accountability, have called for Russia to publicly accept responsibility and compensate the victims. A source within Azerbaijan’s foreign policy establishment described Russia’s response as dismissive, adding that Moscow appeared to be ignoring the incident in hopes it would be forgotten.

Further straining relations, Azerbaijan ordered the closure of the Russian House cultural center in Baku, an institution suspected of being a front for Russian soft power and intelligence activities. Additionally, Azerbaijani state media reported that the country had sent a rare shipment of non-military aid to Ukraine.

The dispute underscores Moscow’s declining influence over its former Soviet allies. The ongoing war in Ukraine has made Russia appear increasingly unreliable as a security partner. Armenia, Azerbaijan’s longtime rival, has already distanced itself from Russia, leaving the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and pursuing closer ties with the West. Georgia has also seen mass protests against its government’s perceived alignment with Russia.

Although Azerbaijan had maintained close ties with Russia, the fallout from the plane crash has significantly strained relations. However, economic and geopolitical interdependencies remain. Azerbaijan has become a key transit hub for Russian trade, especially as Moscow seeks alternatives to bypass Western sanctions. Moreover, Azerbaijan has benefited economically from Europe’s pivot away from Russian energy.

Some in Moscow believe that an official Russian apology could ease tensions. Russian political analyst Sergei Markov, who is close to the Kremlin, acknowledged that Russia’s air defenses mistakenly downed the plane and suggested that a sincere apology might resolve the issue. Others, however, argue that Baku is using the crash as a pretext to escalate tensions with Moscow, citing long-standing but previously unspoken grievances.

Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry Releases Weekly Review Videos

Azerbaijan Confronts Russia Over Downed Plane The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense has published its latest weekly review, summarizing key military developments. Azernews, citing the ministry’s press service, shared the video update, highlighting notable events from the past week.

Fire in Residential Building in Baku Quickly Contained

Azerbaijan Confronts Russia Over Downed Plane A fire broke out in a residential building in Baku’s Yasamal district, prompting an emergency response. The Ministry of Emergency Situations’ (MES) “112” hotline received the report, and firefighters swiftly arrived to control the blaze. The fire, which started on the sixth floor of an eight-story building, damaged 25 square meters of an 80-square-meter apartment, affecting a room, a balcony, and household items. Thanks to quick intervention, nine residents were safely evacuated, and the fire was prevented from spreading further.

Heydar Aliyev Foundation Wins Prestigious International Award

Azerbaijan Confronts Russia Over Downed Plane The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has been honored with the prestigious “Hamdan-ICESCO” award, recognizing its contributions to education and social protection. Organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, the award acknowledges initiatives that enhance educational institutions and learning environments in Islamic nations. Competing against nine projects from seven countries, the foundation received the award for its “Education and Social Protection Project,” which funds school construction and renovations worldwide.