Four individuals in Azerbaijan with insights into the investigation informed Reuters news agency that the aircraft was ‘downed by a Russian air defence system’.
The aircraft, carrying 67 passengers, was purportedly shot down after being rerouted from ‘an area of Russia where Moscow has deployed air defence systems against Ukrainian drone strikes in recent months’.
US military sources reportedly share similar suspicions, according to Sky News.
Following the crash, President Putin issued a statement, with reports indicating that 38 individuals perished in the incident.
A statement titled “Telephone conversation with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev” was published on the President of Russia’s website.
The release details a phone conversation initiated by Russia between Putin and Aliyev, where they discussed ‘issues related to the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane on December 25 near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan’ and talked ‘in detail’.
The statement continues: “Vladimir Putin apologized for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace, and once again expressed deep and sincere condolences to the families of the victims, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
“During the conversation, it was noted that the Azerbaijani passenger aircraft, which was strictly on schedule, repeatedly attempted to land at the Grozny airport. At that time, Grozny, Mozdok and Vladikavkaz were attacked by Ukrainian combat unmanned aerial vehicles, and Russian air defense systems repelled these attacks.”
A criminal case under Article 263 of the Criminal Code (violation of traffic safety rules and operation of air transport) has reportedly been opened by the Investigative Committee of Russia.
The statement mentions that ‘civilian and military specialists are being questioned’ during the ‘initial investigative actions,’ which are currently ‘underway’.
It concludes: “Currently, two employees of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Azerbaijan are in Grozny, where they are working together with representatives of the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation.
“The relevant services of Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are also closely cooperating at the site of the disaster in the Aktau region.”
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