The crash occurred on Wednesday when Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8432, en route to Grozny, Russia, went down near Aktau, Kazakhstan. Speaking to Azerbaijani state television on Sunday, Aliyev stated, “We can say with complete clarity that the plane was shot down by Russia. We are not saying that it was done intentionally, but it was done.”

According to Aliyev, the Embraer 190 aircraft was struck by ground fire over Russia and rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare systems, forcing it off course before its failed emergency landing. Initial reports from the Kremlin attributed the crash to a collision with a flock of birds, but mounting evidence suggested the involvement of an antiaircraft missile.

“We were upset and surprised by the conflicting accounts provided by Russian officials. Unfortunately, for the first three days, we heard nothing from Russia except delirious versions,” Aliyev remarked, accusing Moscow of attempting to obscure the truth.

Adding to the controversy, a Kazakh aviation safety expert, speaking to Al Jazeera anonymously, dismissed the bird strike theory. “No bird can ever cause such damage. It’s absurd and criminal to claim such a thing,” the expert said.

On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin extended his condolences and apologised to Aliyev for what he described as a “tragic incident” involving Russian air defences targeting Ukrainian attack drones. However, the Kremlin’s official statement did not directly acknowledge that the airliner had been shot down, noting only that a criminal case had been opened.

Aliyev, while acknowledging Putin’s apology, insisted on further actions from Moscow. “The Russian side must apologise to Azerbaijan, acknowledge its guilt, punish those responsible, and provide compensation to the Azerbaijani state, injured passengers, and crew members. These are our conditions,” he declared.

The Kremlin announced a joint investigation into the crash in cooperation with Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Putin and Aliyev spoke by phone again on Sunday, although no additional details of their conversation were disclosed. (ILKHA)