President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has made a striking announcement: the country is preparing a large-scale lawsuit in international courts against Russia in connection with a tragic incident that occurred in December of last year. The case concerns the downing of an Embraer 190 civilian aircraft operated by AZAL, with 38 people on board – all of whom perished.

In December 2024, the aircraft, operating on a domestic route, disappeared from radar near the borders of a conflict zone. It was later determined that the plane had been shot down by Russian air defense systems, triggering an international outcry. However, according to the Azerbaijani leader, Moscow has yet to provide clear explanations or officially acknowledge responsibility.

“Azerbaijan will not allow this tragedy to be silenced. We demand justice – compensation for the families of the victims, payments for the injured, and reimbursement for the aircraft. But most importantly, we demand that responsibility be acknowledged,” Aliyev stated.

Aliyev pointed out that Russian officials are evading direct answers, and Baku’s efforts to obtain clarification have resulted only in “generic and formal responses.” According to Azerbaijan, this behavior violates international norms and undermines trust between the two countries.

Baku intends to launch legal proceedings in several international jurisdictions – including the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. The Ministry of Justice is reportedly finalizing the necessary documentation.

This statement comes amid increasingly strained relations between Baku and Moscow, particularly following the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and the resulting shifts in regional geopolitics. And while the two nations continue to cooperate in certain areas, this incident may place the fragile balance at risk.

Source: The Kyiv Independent 

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20.07.2025 02:31