Adherence to the principles of objectivity, decency, and fairness distinguishes mature individuals who, in all circumstances, maintain their dignity, stay true to their word, and fulfill their obligations. These high standards are a norm in their lives, and in their interactions with others, they consistently rely on trust and mutual understanding.
These qualities embody moral perfection. It would be unjust to claim that the truths in question are little known or unpopular among the masses. Yet, in some cases, certain groups, through inexplicable actions, reject the laws of decency and act against common sense.
In an interview with Azerbaijan Television, President Ilham Aliyev commented on the tragedy of the AZAL civilian aircraft, which crashed due to damage sustained mid-air. He expressed bewilderment at the actions of the Russian side, which were responsible for the disaster. “Perhaps no one could have imagined that our plane would be fired upon from the ground in a country considered friendly to us,” said the head of state, placing the blame on Russian aviation authorities and special services.
The scale of their influence on the critical situation is undeniable and demands thorough investigation. The Azerbaijani leader urged patience with speculation until the findings of the international commission, which has already begun investigating the causes of the crash, are revealed.
Undoubtedly, the tragedy could have been avoided if certain Russian services had not sought to divert attention from the primary causes of the catastrophe.
“One of the moments that saddened and surprised us was that official Russian agencies put forward theories about the explosion of a gas cylinder on board. This clearly showed that the Russian side wanted to cover up the issue, which, of course, is unbecoming of anyone,” Aliyev stated, pointing out the futility of diversionary tactics that detract from uncovering the causes of the incident.
Experts often say that safety regulations are written in blood, and they are entirely correct. Every emergency requires meticulous investigation and objective conclusions. In this case, it is mistaken to suggest that only the Azerbaijani side is interested in such findings. The conclusions will serve as lessons for all, and it is the responsibility of all involved to swiftly unravel the causal factors and reach definitive conclusions.
The Azerbaijani leader, in his stance, demonstrates restraint and respect toward Russia, staying true to the principles of political ethics. He emphasized: “Of course, our plane was hit by accident. Clearly, there can be no talk of a deliberate terrorist act here. Therefore, admitting guilt, promptly apologizing to Azerbaijan, a country considered friendly, and informing the public about this – these were measures and steps that should have been taken.”
Aggression and unwillingness to cooperate, in this case, not only hinder the investigation but also damage bilateral relations. For this reason, Ilham Aliyev stressed that the current situation requires fostering an atmosphere of cooperation, not confrontation. The effectiveness of joint efforts depends on mutual commitment to achieving results.
The Azerbaijani president, with regret, recalled that during the first three days, Baku heard nothing from Russia “except for some absurd theories.” He pointed out that the loss of time works against the cause and that serious efforts are necessary to uncover the truth.
From the words of the Azerbaijani leader, it is clear that Azerbaijan’s approach strictly adheres to globally accepted norms and procedures and does not infringe on Russia’s interests. On the contrary, Russia, by attempting to impose its rules and perspectives on Azerbaijan, sought to create an advantageous environment for itself to absolve the services and institutions responsible for the unforgivable mistakes in the AZAL plane incident.
In his interview, Aliyev shed light on critical circumstances to dispel rumors and falsehoods. He stated: “If we had seen fair and reasonable steps from Russia immediately after the catastrophe, we probably would not have objected. But we saw clear attempts to cover up the issue. For this reason, Azerbaijan insisted on the creation of an international working group for the investigation, ensuring that the factors of objectivity could be fully upheld.”
In his views, the president is precise and sets a trend for clarity and decisiveness. He raised specific questions that must be answered to shed light on the causes of the accident: “Why couldn’t the plane land in Grozny? To what extent did electronic warfare systems affect the aircraft’s control? What was the impact of the mid-air strike and the explosion near the plane? Attempts to deny the obvious fact and obscure it in this case are both absurd and foolish. The injuries inflicted on the passengers and crew by fragments that pierced the plane are evident. Attributing this to birds or presenting it as a gas cylinder explosion is both foolish and disgraceful,” the president concluded. He emphasized that a sense of responsibility and a serious approach are the key factors capable of framing a difficult process within the bounds of rationality and composure.
It is often said that every crime has a name, surname, and patronymic. This case, with its anti-heroes, is no exception. Even if negligence was involved, it is criminal in nature, and all those responsible must be held accountable. “We, the Azerbaijani side, and I personally strive to be as fair as possible,” said President Aliyev. “We do not want to comment on unclear issues until they are fully clarified. However, we must, we do, and we will express our opinions with full determination on obvious matters.” He reiterated that the public, the families of the victims, and experts in the relevant fields have the right to accurate information. This is one of those cases where creating an informational vacuum is unacceptable.
The president’s verdict is decisive: “In my remarks here at the airport on the day of the catastrophe, I said that the Azerbaijani public would be regularly informed about this issue and the progress of this investigation, and it has been.” This demonstrates a sound approach to a complex situation where all questions must be answered clearly.
This sensitive issue directly touches on the safety of people who use various modes of transportation, strive for consistency, and take measures to avoid emergencies. In this context, concerns and anxieties are understandable and require no further elaboration.
It is entirely reasonable that Ilham Aliyev addresses safety issues as fundamental and urgent priorities.
Unfortunately, many people sometimes forget that the peace and stability they have achieved are not permanent and can be disrupted by unforeseen circumstances at any moment, as was the case here. Nevertheless, despite unexpected turns of events, safeguarding security and tirelessly working towards it is a constant responsibility for everyone.
Addressing this aspect of the tragedy, President Aliyev highlighted a critical point: “Since the airspace over many Russian cities is periodically closed, a special operational regime is applied there. They call this a ‘Kovyor (carpet) operation.’ Returning to the questions I mentioned earlier, I must also emphasize the following: it is necessary to clarify when exactly that ‘Kovyor operation’ was announced. Because, according to the information we have, it was announced only after our plane had already been subjected to external impact. If this is true, it once again shows that local services acted to cover up the issue.”
Here, the head of state directly addressed the causes and consequences of the incident, which revealed significant gaps. These gaps require thorough investigation and precise conclusions.
After such tragedies, every affected party implements new regulations and measures to prevent future incidents. For this reason, AZAL has indefinitely suspended flights to seven Russian cities and halted flights by Russian airlines from three Russian cities to Azerbaijan.
Commenting on these decisions, the president stated that they were driven solely by safety considerations: “We have always considered the safety of our passengers our top priority, and thus this measure was introduced. Whatever we do, we do it openly.”
President Ilham Aliyev reminded that Azerbaijan has openly communicated its demands to the Russian side: “Firstly,” he said, “the Russian side must apologize to Azerbaijan. Secondly, it must acknowledge its guilt. Thirdly, those responsible must be punished, brought to criminal accountability, and compensation must be paid to the Azerbaijani state, to the affected passengers, and to the crew members. These are our conditions. The first of these has already been fulfilled. I hope that the other conditions will also be accepted. All these conditions are fair.”
The pragmatic tone of the Azerbaijani leader’s interview dispelled misconceptions. His articulated thoughts and approaches cannot be swept under the rug, and the Russian side must draw appropriate conclusions and provide substantive responses to the questions that remain unanswered.
This situation underscores the dangers and consequences of concealing the truth and attempting to distort reality. Such actions inevitably lead to the loss of trust and the erosion of justice.
