World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Kadyrov apologizes to Azerbaijan over deadly 2024 plane crash
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov apologized to Azerbaijan during a visit to Baku on October 10.
He offered condolences for the December 2024 crash of an Azerbaijani passenger plane near Grozny, Chechnya’s capital.
The crash killed 38 of the 67 people aboard after Chechen air defenses reportedly mistook the plane for a Ukrainian drone and fired on it.
The damaged jet crossed the Caspian Sea before crashing in Kazakhstan.
The disaster strained relations between Azerbaijan and Russia, which initially refused to accept responsibility; Russian President Vladimir Putin later apologized in October 2025.
Kadyrov is a close ally of Putin, and his visit may reflect efforts to improve ties with Azerbaijan.
Aliyev and Kadyrov discussed possible cooperation, and the meeting suggests Baku is ready to reengage diplomatically.
The day before, Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev met Putin and Iran’s president in Turkmenistan to discuss expanding trade between their countries.
Ramzan Kadyrov apologized to Azerbaijan over the December 2024 crash of an Azerbaijani passenger plane.
Kadyrov offered condolences to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during a meeting in Baku on October 10.
The crash killed 38 of the 67 people aboard the AZAL Airlines flight.
The plane was damaged by anti-aircraft fire as it approached Grozny and later crashed in Kazakhstan.
The visit came amid efforts to improve strained relations between Azerbaijan and Russia.
- Who
- Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
- What
- Kadyrov offered condolences over the December 2024 plane crash.
- When
- October 10, 2026.
- Where
- Baku, Azerbaijan.
- Why
- Kadyrov expressed condolences over the deadly crash. The article says the visit appeared aimed at helping restore ties between Azerbaijan and Russia.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
An Azerbaijani AZAL Airlines flight crashed in Kazakhstan after being damaged by anti-aircraft fire near Grozny, killing 38 people.
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered an apology, which eased tensions, according to the article.
Aliyev met with Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Turkmenistan to discuss expanding trilateral trade.
Kadyrov visited Baku and offered condolences to Aliyev over the plane crash.
- Deaths
- 38 of the 67 passengers and crew
- Airline
- AZAL Airlines
- Crash date
- December 2024
- Crash location
- Kazakhstan
- Meeting location
- Baku, Azerbaijan
- Apology date
- October 10, 2026
What people are saying
on my own behalf and on behalf of the entire Chechen people, my deepest condolences regarding the Baku-Grozny plane crash in December 2024.
This is a shared grief,
Sources
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