The letter sent by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Azerbaijan, which attempts to explain the shooting down of an AZAL civilian aircraft over Grozny by Russian military forces as being caused by “unfavourable weather conditions,” has caused serious public concern. The attempt to close the criminal case clearly contradicts the established facts, technical evidence, and the fundamental principles of international law, and demonstrates Russia’s deliberate effort to evade responsibility.
Commenting on the issue in an interview with ARB24 Television, political analyst Ahmad Shahidov stated that all details of the incident are already clear and that the events cannot be denied: “Those who gave the order to shoot down the aircraft, those who carried it out, and the entire course of events are known. Nevertheless, the decision to terminate the criminal investigation shows that Russia is approaching this issue politically rather than legally. Such an approach is incompatible with both the spirit of alliance and international law.”
Ahmad Shahidov also stressed that Russia’s conduct does not align with ethical norms and has seriously damaged Moscow’s international image: “Any state that respects itself should take responsibility in such cases, issue an apology, pay compensation, and punish those responsible. Attempts to evade responsibility instead portray Russia as an unreliable partner on the international stage and further undermine trust in the region.”
