Kazakhstan has delayed the release of black box data from an Azerbaijani plane crash amid allegations of Russian involvement. Kazakh officials are facing challenges in finalizing the report while investigations continue in collaboration with Russia and Azerbaijan. The tragic crash claimed 38 lives, raising significant political implications for Kazakhstan.
The release of the black box data from an Azerbaijani aircraft that crashed in Kazakhstan has been postponed, as confirmed by a Kazakh official. This delay follows Azerbaijan’s allegations that Russian forces unintentionally shot down the airliner. The crash, which occurred on December 25, resulted in the tragic loss of 38 lives among the 67 passengers on board.
Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev addressed the media, stating that there were “difficulties” in compiling the investigative report. He expressed hope that a preliminary report would be published in the coming week. As per the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the findings were expected to be published by Friday, marking 30 days since the incident.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has claimed that Russia’s military mistakenly fired at the Azerbaijani Airlines jet as it approached Grozny airport for a scheduled landing. Meanwhile, Russia has acknowledged that its air defenses were operational but did not confirm culpability regarding the aircraft. Bozumbayev revealed that the contents of the black boxes have been thoroughly analyzed but required verification through family identification.
An investigation has been initiated, encompassing ballistic and explosives testing to formulate a comprehensive understanding of the event. Kazakhstan, alongside Russia and Azerbaijan, is conducting criminal inquiries related to the crash, with ongoing cooperation between their respective authorities. The black boxes were initially sent to Brazil for analysis before their return to Kazakhstan for the necessary disclosures.
Kazakhstan’s political stance is precarious as it maintains relationships with both Russia and Azerbaijan. Some independent analysts have indicated a high probability that the plane was inadvertently downed, drawing parallels to the MH17 incident involving Malaysian Airlines, which faced a similar fate in 2014.
In summary, the release of the black box data concerning the Azerbaijani plane crash in Kazakhstan has been delayed amidst allegations of Russian military involvement. Authorities continue their investigations, with collaboration between Kazakhstan, Russia, and Azerbaijan. The political implications of this incident are significant for Kazakhstan, highlighting the complexities of maintaining diplomatic relations under such circumstances.
Original Source: www.france24.com
