Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Saturday, apologised for the “tragic” downing of an Azerbaijan plane in Russian airspace, but refused to blame his country for the crash that has so far killed 38 people and injured several others.
Russia has come under intense criticism, especially from Ukraine, which alleged that Russia had a hand in the crash that happened on December 25.
Ukrainian presidential spokesman Andriy Yermak said Russia must be held responsible for the crash.
Azerbaijan’s transport minister, Rashad Nabiyev, said the plane was subjected to “external interference” and damaged inside and out, as it tried to land in Russia’s southern republic of Chechnya.
“All the survivors without exception stated they heard three blast sounds when the aircraft was above Grozny,” Nabiyev said.
The plane is thought to have come under fire from Russian air defence systems before being diverted across the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan, where it crashed.
Putin’s apology may have also made room for Russia’s allegation that Ukraine may have been responsible for the crash as it accused Ukraine of launching terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Head of Russia’s civil aviation agency Dmitry Yadrov said the situation in Grozny was “very complicated” at the time and a closed-skies protocol had been put in place.
“Ukrainian combat drones were launching terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure in the cities of Grozny and Vladikavkaz,” Yadro, head of Rosaviatsia, said in a video statement posted on Russia’s Tass news agency.
“Because of this a ‘Carpet plan’ was introduced in the area of Grozny airport, providing for the immediate departure of all aircraft from the specified area,” he said adding that “there was dense fog in the area of Grozny airport.”
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