A diplomatic meeting turned into a fiery exchange when Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev accused Vladimir Putin of a cover-up, saying “you tried to hush it up,” moments after the Russian leader conceded his country’s fault in a 2024 air disaster. The confrontation occurred at a summit in Tajikistan, laying bare the animosity between the nations.
Putin had just admitted for the first time that Russian missiles were involved in the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines jet that killed 38 people. He termed the incident a “tragedy,” explaining it was an accident caused by an air defense operation against Ukrainian drones that were “meters away” from the plane.
The crash on December 25, 2024, has been a persistent source of conflict. The Baku-to-Grozny flight was hit by what Azerbaijani officials long claimed was Russian friendly fire. The plane’s subsequent crash in Kazakhstan became a national tragedy for Azerbaijan and a diplomatic nightmare for Russia.
Aliyev’s pointed accusation reflects a deep-seated belief in Baku that Moscow has not been forthright. The relationship, once considered warm, has deteriorated significantly, with the plane crash acting as a catalyst for a series of other diplomatic and legal disputes.
Despite the tense atmosphere, Putin concluded the meeting with a pledge for action. He promised Aliyev that Russia would compensate the families of the 38 victims and that the officials responsible for the downing would face a legal review for their actions.
