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Azerbaijani civil society condemns closure of investigation into AZAL aircraft incident

Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mikhail Yevdokimov

07 January 2026 14:42 (UTC +04:00)

The National NGO Forum of Azerbaijan has issued an open letter to the Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mikhail Yevdokimov, expressing strong protest against the termination of the criminal investigation into the AZAL aircraft incident and demanding accountability, justice, and compensation, APA reports.

The letter reads:

"We, the representatives of the National NGO Forum of Azerbaijan, which unites hundreds of Azerbaijani NGOs, are addressing you regarding the letter from the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Alexander Bastrykin, to the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan concerning the AZAL aircraft incident, which has been made public in the media.

At a time when the Azerbaijani public expects the Russian investigative authorities to identify the perpetrators and impose the most severe punishment regarding the AZAL aircraft shot down on December 25, 2024, in the skies over Grozny by missiles fired from a "Pantsir-S1" air defense system, A.Bastrykin’s announcement that this criminal case has been terminated is incomprehensible and unacceptable.

The claim that the aircraft was allegedly unable to land in Grozny due to adverse weather conditions—while ignoring all photographic and video evidence—represents an attempt to disregard the blood of innocent people killed and wounded in this incident, and effectively encourages those who opened fire on them. The Azerbaijani society reacts to this with deep indignation and rejects such an interpretation.

The bloody incident that Bastrykin is attempting to cover up is a matter of honor for the Azerbaijani people. We will not remain silent. If the Russian side believes that the matter is settled simply by offering an apology to Azerbaijan, they are fundamentally mistaken. The fact of this bloody crime must be acknowledged, every individual responsible must be held criminally liable, and compensation must be paid to the state of Azerbaijan, the affected passengers, and the crew members. International practice and standard human conduct demand nothing less.

The shooting down of a civilian aircraft is prohibited under the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. Bastrykin’s letter further contradicts the Chicago Convention, specifically its Annex 13, titled 'Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation.' This tragedy must not be covered up; on the contrary, all necessary measures must be implemented for its full investigation.

The essence of Alexander Bastrykin’s letter does not align with the position voiced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on this matter and is, in fact, a legal and political provocation effectively calculated to evade responsibility. On October 9, 2025, in Dushanbe, Vladimir Putin acknowledged the existence of technical malfunctions in Russia’s air defense system in connection with the shooting down of the AZAL aircraft. He stated that the Russian side would do everything necessary to pay compensation, as required in such tragic situations, and that a legal assessment would be provided for the actions of all officials involved.

Mr. Ambassador, answer us: who expresses the official position of Russia on this matter—President Vladimir Putin or the Chairman of the Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin?

We expect you to receive the Board of the National NGO Forum of Azerbaijan and to provide an answer to our question."