🇷🇺🇦🇿Russia's President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyevmet in Dushanbe (October 9, 2025)
💬 I would like to begin our meeting with the most sensitive topic – the aviation tragedy that occurred in our skies. During our first phone conversation, I not only offered my apologies for the fact that the tragedy took place in Russian airspace, but also conveyed my deepest condolences to the families of the victims. I would like to reaffirm that, as agreed, we are providing every possible assistance to the investigation.
The investigation itself is nearing completion, and we can already speak in general terms about the causes of this tragedy, this catastrophe. It was caused by several factors:
The first factor was the presence of a Ukrainian drone in the airspace. We tracked three such drones that crossed the Russian border on the night of the tragedy.
The second reason lies in technical failures within Russia’s air defense system. Two missiles were launched, and although they did not directly hit the aircraft (if they had, it would have crashed immediately), they exploded a few meters away, about ten meters. It may have been self-detonation. The damage occurred mainly not from combat fragments, but most likely from pieces of the missiles themselves. That is why the pilot thought it was a collision with a flock of birds, which he reported to Russian air traffic controllers. This is recorded in the so-called “black boxes”. He was also advised, as the recordings show clearly, to land in Makhachkala, but he decided to return to his base airport, and then to Kazakhstan.
Naturally, everything that needs to be done in such tragic cases will be done by the Russian Side, including compensation, and a legal assessment will be given to the actions of all officials involved.
Of course, words of sympathy and moral support for the families cannot solve the main problem – they cannot bring back those who lost their lives in the tragedy. But our duty, as we agreed from the very beginning, is to make an objective assessment of everything that happened and determine the true causes. This requires some time. To close this matter completely, some more time will be needed.
👉 I would like to note that, despite this tragedy, our mutual interests in many areas coincide and remain very close. Above all, this concerns trade and economic cooperation. Despite all the difficulties connected to this tragedy and related issues, our trade and economic relations have continued to develop successfully. Last year, trade grew by about 6%, and this year by more than 16%. This is a very good result.
Thanks to your attention to this area, our humanitarian ties have always been strong. We will discuss this further. We are grateful to you for this, and we, on our part, will do everything possible to maintain this positive dynamic.
🤝I hope that this cooperation will not only be restored but will continue in the spirit of our relations, in the spirit of our alliance.
📄Full statement
#RussiaAzerbaijan
🇷🇺🇦🇿📞On March 11, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev had a telephone conversation.
Vladimir Putin thanked Ilham Aliyev for the efficient assistance in organizing the evacuation of Russian nationals from Iran and in ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Iranian people from Russia via Azerbaijani territory.
In an exchange of views on the current situation in the Middle East, the Leaders spoke in favour of an early cessation of hostilities and resolving the acute conflict through political and diplomatic means.
They also touched upon a number of topical issues on the bilateral agenda. Both Sides reaffirmed their commitment to further developing Russian-Azerbaijani cooperation across various fields on the principles of strategic partnership and alliance.
#RussiaAzerbaijan
🇷🇺🇦🇿Russia's President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyevmet in Dushanbe (October 9, 2025)
💬 I would like to begin our meeting with the most sensitive topic – the aviation tragedy that occurred in our skies. During our first phone conversation, I not only offered my apologies for the fact that the tragedy took place in Russian airspace, but also conveyed my deepest condolences to the families of the victims. I would like to reaffirm that, as agreed, we are providing every possible assistance to the investigation.
The investigation itself is nearing completion, and we can already speak in general terms about the causes of this tragedy, this catastrophe. It was caused by several factors:
The first factor was the presence of a Ukrainian drone in the airspace. We tracked three such drones that crossed the Russian border on the night of the tragedy.
The second reason lies in technical failures within Russia’s air defense system. Two missiles were launched, and although they did not directly hit the aircraft (if they had, it would have crashed immediately), they exploded a few meters away, about ten meters. It may have been self-detonation. The damage occurred mainly not from combat fragments, but most likely from pieces of the missiles themselves. That is why the pilot thought it was a collision with a flock of birds, which he reported to Russian air traffic controllers. This is recorded in the so-called “black boxes”. He was also advised, as the recordings show clearly, to land in Makhachkala, but he decided to return to his base airport, and then to Kazakhstan.
Naturally, everything that needs to be done in such tragic cases will be done by the Russian Side, including compensation, and a legal assessment will be given to the actions of all officials involved.
Of course, words of sympathy and moral support for the families cannot solve the main problem – they cannot bring back those who lost their lives in the tragedy. But our duty, as we agreed from the very beginning, is to make an objective assessment of everything that happened and determine the true causes. This requires some time. To close this matter completely, some more time will be needed.
👉 I would like to note that, despite this tragedy, our mutual interests in many areas coincide and remain very close. Above all, this concerns trade and economic cooperation. Despite all the difficulties connected to this tragedy and related issues, our trade and economic relations have continued to develop successfully. Last year, trade grew by about 6%, and this year by more than 16%. This is a very good result.
Thanks to your attention to this area, our humanitarian ties have always been strong. We will discuss this further. We are grateful to you for this, and we, on our part, will do everything possible to maintain this positive dynamic.
🤝I hope that this cooperation will not only be restored but will continue in the spirit of our relations, in the spirit of our alliance.
📄Full statement
#RussiaAzerbaijan
🇷🇺🇦🇿 Expanded Russian-Azerbaijani negotiations were held in Baku.
💬 President of Russia Vladimir Putin: As you have noted, our delegation is highly representative, as is yours. The Government of the Russian Federation is here in nearly full composition.
We have already mentioned that just ten days ago, the intergovernmental commission held a meeting, which confirmed that our relations are progressing. Moreover, it was noted that we fully honour the provisions of the 2022 Declaration, as well as the agreements reached during your visit last April.
🤝 Working with such a large delegation allows us to plan for the near future more effectively. Even though our discussions were held in a restricted format, we have already addressed several top-priority issues.
✍️ We still need to sign a number of documents. Our colleagues have had the chance – both informally yesterday evening, as we did, and throughout the day today – to engage with one another and outline the next steps.
#RussiaAzerbaijan
🇷🇺🇦🇿 From the Joint Statement of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on the results of bilateral talks with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev(19 August 2024)
💬Vladimir Putin: Russia attaches great importance to developing a comprehensive and friendly relationship with Azerbaijan. This relationship is based on the principles of equality, respect for each other's interests, and, of course, the close personal and cultural ties that have brought our nations together for centuries now.
The Joint Statement we adopted outlines ambitious goals for advancing our bilateral relations dynamically. Additionally, the documents signed today will support the achievement of these goals.
The key economic cooperation issues are constantly monitored by our colleagues on the intergovernmental commission. Its latest meeting, held in Baku ahead of our visit, was highly productive.
Cultural ties are actively expanding. In June, Azerbaijan successfully hosted Days of Russian Culture, featuring exhibitions, concerts, theatrical performances, and other vibrant cultural events.
We also touched upon current international developments. In foreign policy, both our countries firmly adhere to the principles of the supremacy of international law, the sovereignty of states and non-interference in their internal affairs.
🤝 Russia and Azerbaijan closely coordinate their efforts at key multilateral platforms, including the #UN and naturally, the Commonwealth of Independent States. We will be delighted to see the President of Azerbaijan at the meeting of the CIS Heads of State Council in Moscow in October, as well as at the outreach meeting to be held in the same month as part of the #BRICS summit in Kazan. <...>
Russia will continue to make utmost efforts towards the normalisation of Azerbaijani-Armenian interaction and the conclusion of a peace treaty based on the well-known trilateral agreements reached by the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia between 2020 and 2022.
☝️ I am sure that the talks held and the agreements reached today will serve to further strengthen the strategic partnership between Russia and Azerbaijan.
#RussiaAzerbaijan