Russia is now facing the price of its silence, as President Vladimir Putin’s admission of fault in a 2024 plane crash comes after ten months of diplomatic frost with Azerbaijan. The confession was met with an accusation of a cover-up, showing the damage is already done.
In a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, Putin acknowledged Russia’s role in the “tragedy” that killed 38 people. He stated that Russian missiles, fired at Ukrainian drones, inadvertently caused the downing of the Azerbaijan Airlines flight when the drones exploded “meters away” from it.
The incident on Christmas Day 2024 has been a disaster for bilateral relations. The crash of the Baku-to-Grozny flight and Russia’s subsequent refusal to comment have led to a complete breakdown of trust and cooperation between the two nations.
The diplomatic frost was evident in Aliyev’s sharp retort. His accusation that Russia tried to “hush up” the affair is the culmination of months of frustration and a clear signal that relations are at a low point.
To begin to pay the price for its silence, Putin promised concrete actions. He committed to financial compensation for the victims and a legal review of the officials involved, the first steps in a long process of potential reconciliation.