Russia and Azerbaijan Reach Settlement Over AZAL Plane Crash

Russia and Azerbaijan have reached a settlement regarding the aftermath of the 2024 AZAL air crash, foreign ministries of both countries said in the joint statement. The ministries confirmed that the agreement includes compensation payments to those affected. They identified the cause of the crash as an "unintentional action of an air defense system” within Russian airspace. Agreement and Diplomatic Implications The joint statement stressed that the steps taken reflect a shared commitment to strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation within their allied partnership.