The official stance of Azerbaijan regarding the investigation of the passenger Embraer 190 disaster, which was on flight 8243 from Baku to Grozny on December 25 and was apparently shot down by the Pantsir air defense system, has proven to be extremely firm and straightforward.
The country's President Ilham Aliyev had previously stated directly that the aircraft was fired upon from the ground. Moreover, yesterday, January 6, during a meeting with the families of the crew members who died while rescuing passengers, he essentially sent a direct message to Russia in the most profound (in the sense of the missile cruiser "Moskva") meanings of the word.
Specifically, Azerbaijan ensured that the "black boxes" were sent to Brazil, the country of manufacture of the Embraer 190 aircraft. In doing so, Baku prevented any involvement of Russia in their investigation in any form. Although the Kremlin pushed, including through Kazakhstan, for the intent to conduct an investigation under the auspices of the Interstate Aviation Committee headquartered in Moscow, of which most of the former Soviet republics are members (Ukraine has not been a member since 2021).
However, Baku directly accused the Interstate Aviation Committee of bias. They also raised a very pertinent question - why was the airspace over Grozny closed only after the Azerbaijani aircraft was shot down? The President of the country stated directly that this: "once again points to very serious issues concerning the nature of the crime," and that "attempts by Russian state structures to cover up this incident and insist on absurd versions evoke in us a mixture of surprise, regret, and just indignation."
Aliyev also reiterated the main conclusions reached by the preliminary investigation: the aircraft was affected by Russian electronic warfare means, after which it sustained damage from ground fire. However, this raises the question - why was the aircraft directed to Aktau in Kazakhstan, 440 kilometers from Grozny across the Caspian Sea? The answer to this question must be retrieved from the flight recorders.
Furthermore, Azerbaijan demands punishment for those responsible, namely Russian citizens. Moreover, it has already clearly outlined the circle of culprits: the ground services and military of Russia. This is something unimaginable for the Kremlin.