Azerbaijani Leader Tells Russia to Admit Guilt Over Plane Crash

He Accuses Russia of Attempts to Cover Up Tragic Incident With 'Absurd' Reasons

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BAKU, Azerbaijan - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Dec. 29 that a passenger plane that crashed last week, killing 38 people, was damaged by shooting from the ground in Russia and that some in Russia lied about the cause of the disaster.

President Vladimir Putin on Dec. 28 apologized to Mr. Aliyev for the "tragic incident" in Russian airspace on Dec. 25 involving the plane after Russian air defenses engaged Ukrainian attack drones.

A Kremlin statement did not say Russia shot down the plane, only noting a criminal case has been opened.

"Our plane was shot down by accident," Mr. Aliyev told state television on Dec. 29, adding that the plane came under some sort of electronic jamming and was shot at while it was approaching the southern Russian city of Grozny.

"Unfortunately, in the first three days, we heard only absurd versions from Russia," he said, citing statements in Russia that attributed the crash to birds or the explosion of some sort of gas cylinder.

"We witnessed clear attempts to cover up the matter," added Mr. Aliyev, who has close ties to Russia and was educated at one of Moscow's top universities.