Russian ambassador invited to Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry because of publications about AZAL

Russian Ambassador to Baku Mikhail Yevdokimov was invited to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry because of "misunderstanding" after publications in the Russian press related to the plane crash near Aktau. This was reported by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry on January 28.

According to the report, a number of publications were regarded by Baku as "disinformation".

"During the meeting it was noted that the publication of messages of disinformation character and reports concerning our country in the Russian press, including on the part of some official circles of Russia, caused misunderstanding, which contradicts the content and spirit of the declaration on allied cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It is noted that the results of the preliminary investigation of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) of the plane crash near Aktau are already known. But the work on its finalization continues.

It is also reported that the meeting discussed information in the Azerbaijani press about the "Russian House" in Baku. According to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, this is not an official position.

"Activity of such organizations on the territory of the country is based on the principle of reciprocity and should be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the legislation," the Ministry stressed.

Tragedy in Aktau: Baku-Grozny passenger plane crashed

A fire started at the scene and there are survivors

Earlier, on January 27, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Rahman Mustafayev discussed the investigation of the plane crash in Kazakhstan's Aktau. The parties emphasized the need to complete the investigation into the causes of the tragedy.

Prior to that, January 24, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said that preliminary results of the investigation into the crash of the AZAL airline may be made public next week. He recalled that the black boxes of the flight were fully decoded by an international team of experts in Brazil and returned to Kazakhstan. According to him, Russia and Azerbaijan have copies of the decryption.

The passenger plane of AZAL Airlines, heading from Baku to Grozny, crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25 last year. A criminal case was opened after the incident. There were 62 passengers and five crew members on board. Thirty-eight people died, among them were seven Russians.