PLANE CRASH: Putin calls Azerbaijani president for second time in two days

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has called Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for the second time in two days to continue discussions about the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane.

Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency RIA Novosti, citing Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov; Azerbaijani president’s press service

Peskov stated that Putin and Aliyev held a phone conversation on Sunday, 29 December, continuing their discussions about issues related to the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash.

The Azerbaijani president’s press service confirmed that it was Putin who initiated the call to Aliyev.

Quote from Azerbaijani president’s press service: “During the phone conversation, the heads of state continued discussions on issues related to the crash of the passenger plane of the Closed Joint-Stock Company Azerbaijan Hava Yollari.”

On 28 December, during a phone call with Aliyev, Putin apologised for the “tragic incident involving the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that occurred in Russian airspace” but did not acknowledge Russians’ responsibility.

On 29 December, Aliyev stated that the Azerbaijani Airlines plane, which encountered trouble over Russian territory, was attacked from the ground. He also demanded Russia acknowledge its responsibility and provide compensation.

On 25 December, an Embraer aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau in Kazakhstan. The crash resulted in the deaths of 38 people.

Azerbaijan Airlines announced on Friday, 27 December, that their plane had experienced “external physical and technical interference”.