Putin and Aliyev Meet in Dushanbe: Resolving Air Crash Controversy, Russia-Azerbaijan Relations Shift to Practical Cooperation

After nearly a year of diplomatic deadlock, Putin apologized to Aliyev in Dushanbe for the air crash, marking a turning point in bilateral relations.

On October 9, 2025, Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, became the stage for a thaw in relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Aliyev held talks there, their first full-scale meeting since the December 2024 Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane crash, which soured relations between the two countries.

During the talks, Putin formally apologized for the air crash for the first time, stating that Russia would assume compensation obligations and conduct legal assessments of those responsible. Aliyev expressed appreciation for Russia's investigation efforts, and both sides agreed to continue to advance bilateral relations.

01 The Air Crash and the Origin of Tensions in Russia-Azerbaijan Relations

On December 25, 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane en route from Baku to Grozny crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 people. Following the incident, Azerbaijan quickly blamed Russia.

After the crash, Aliyev made three clear demands to Russia: an apology, an admission of guilt, and punishment and compensation. Although Putin apologized in a phone call with Aliyev on December 28, 2024, the two sides remained at odds over the responsibility for the incident.

In July 2025, relations between the two countries further deteriorated due to the arrests in Yekaterinburg. Azerbaijan took a series of countermeasures, including canceling parliamentary and cultural exchange activities, raiding the Sputnik branch office in Azerbaijan, and detaining several Russian journalists.

Russia responded by summoning the Azerbaijani ambassador and arresting an Azerbaijani businessman and the head of the Azerbaijani Diaspora Association.

02 Dushanbe Meeting and Putin's Apology Strategy

During the Dushanbe talks, Putin provided his first comprehensive explanation of the cause of the crash. He revealed that on the night of the crash, Russian air defense systems were tracking three intruding Ukrainian drones when a technical malfunction occurred within the system, causing the missiles launched to self-destruct near the passenger plane, with debris striking the aircraft.

Putin emphasized, "The aircraft was not directly damaged by the missile explosion, but by shrapnel." He pledged that Russia would fulfill all its obligations, including compensation and a legal assessment of the actions of all officials involved.

This apology, coming nearly a year after strained Russian-Azerbaijani relations, was strategically timed. Analysts pointed out that Putin's apology preserved the Russian military's justification for wartime air defense while demonstrating a diplomatic de-escalation and strategic stabilization after the evidence chain tightened.

A public apology to a neighboring country by a president is extremely rare in Russia's recent diplomatic history.

03 Aliyev's Pragmatic Response and the Restoration of Bilateral Relations

Aliyev responded positively to Putin's statement. He thanked Putin for the information he provided regarding the investigation into the cause of the crash and expressed gratitude for his personal involvement and leadership in the investigation, expressing confidence that the investigation will be conducted objectively.

Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan-Russia relations are developing well not only in the economic and trade sphere, but also in many other areas, with bilateral trade in particular experiencing rapid growth. The roadmap established by both sides is being steadily implemented.

This pragmatic response reflects Azerbaijan's geopolitical balancing strategy. As a hub connecting Turkey and Iran and a key energy hub to Europe, Azerbaijan needs to maintain stable relations with Russia while also continuously developing partnerships with the West and Turkey.

After the talks, the two leaders determined a path forward for further developing bilateral relations, laying the foundation for future cooperation.

04 The Geopolitical Background and Future Direction of Russia-Azerbaijan Relations

The relationship between Russia and Azerbaijan has always been influenced by regional geopolitics. On the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, Russia has consistently sided with Armenia, creating competition with Turkey, which supports Azerbaijan.

In September 2023, Azerbaijan, with the support of Turkey, launched a military operation to retake the Nagorno-Karabakh region. This action did not receive Russian support, leading to subtle changes in Russia-Azerbaijan relations.

Energy cooperation is a key pillar of the bilateral relationship. Seeking to break its dependence on Russian energy, the EU has identified Azerbaijan as a reliable alternative. In July 2022, the EU and Azerbaijan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Energy Sector, in which Azerbaijan pledged to more than double its natural gas supplies to Europe by 2027.

Russia's efforts to repair relations with Azerbaijan at this time also reflect its own interests in the energy sector.

Furthermore, the recent signing of the "Document on Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation in the Caspian Sea" by the navies of Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan also reflects Russia's efforts to stabilize relations with its neighbors through the framework of regional cooperation.

With the handshake between Putin and Aliyev in Dushanbe, a new chapter in Russian-Azerbaijani relations has begun. This meeting not only resolved a nearly year-long diplomatic deadlock but also demonstrated the pragmatic diplomacy of the two leaders in a complex geopolitical environment.

Against the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and turbulent global energy markets, the easing of relations between Russia and Azerbaijan presents new possibilities for regional stability and cooperation.