During the visit of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksey Overchuk to Azerbaijan, one of the key topics on the agenda was Moscow’s agreement to pay compensation for the downing of the AZAL aircraft. Ahead of the intergovernmental commission meeting, alongside economic cooperation, the parties also discussed steps to address the consequences of the tragedy that occurred in December 2024, and reached an agreement on compensation.
Political analyst Ahmad Shahidov stated on ARB24 that the compensation decision is, in fact, delayed: “Russia has not taken full and adequate steps regarding the downing of the AZAL aircraft so far. No official apology has been issued, and compensation is being addressed long after the incident. One of the most critical issues is that those responsible for this incident have still not been identified or held accountable. The investigation remains open, and there is no real progress toward its conclusion.”
Ahmad Shahidov also emphasized that such an approach contradicts the strategic alliance between Azerbaijan and Russia: “With this incident, Russia has effectively harmed its close partner, Azerbaijan. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan continues to pursue a balanced policy, maintaining relations while firmly defending its rightful position. President Ilham Aliyev has consistently stated from the very first days that the investigation must be completed, those responsible must be punished, and official compensation must be paid to Azerbaijan. Although compensation is now on the agenda, the failure to identify those responsible raises serious concerns. Through this process, Azerbaijan has conveyed its demands to Russia and sent a clear message to the international community that the state will defend the rights of its citizens to the very end.”
