Dushanbe: Austria’s leading media outlets have reported that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. During this significant meeting, Russia accepted responsibility for the downing of an Azerbaijani passenger aircraft in December of the previous year.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the reports highlighted that Vladimir Putin made a public statement acknowledging Russia’s role in the tragic incident. He assured that Russia would take all necessary measures to provide compensation for the crash, which resulted in the loss of 38 lives. The AZAL passenger aircraft was en route to Grozny when it was struck by Russian air defense systems and subsequently crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25, 2024.
The articles published in Austria’s prominent media outlets, including ORF, Die Presse, Kronenzeitung, and Kurier, emphasized the gravity of the situation and the commitment expressed by Russia to address the aftermath of the unfortunate event. The meeting between the two leaders in Dushanbe served as a platform for acknowledgment and discussions on the necessary steps forward following the incident.