Alisher Kodirov: Request to be sent to the Ministry of Transport regarding the security of Russian airspace

Deputy Alisher Kodirov announced that a formal request will be submitted to Russia’s Ministry of Transport to seek clarification regarding the security of its airspace.

He emphasized that the Milliy Tiklanish faction will call for a "justified explanation" on the matter from the Ministry of Transport. The same request will also be directed to Uzbekistan Airways.

"Uzbekistan Airways must prioritize the safety of our citizens above all else," Alisher Kodirov wrote.

For reference, on December 25, an Azerbaijan Airlines plane en route from Baku to Grozny crashed near the city of Aktau in western Kazakhstan. On December 26, Euronews, citing its sources, reported that the plane had been shot down by Russian air defense forces.

According to sources within the Azerbaijani government, the crash occurred as a result of a Russian surface-to-air missile. They explained that Russian air defense forces fired the missile at the AZAL plane while drones were active in Grozny, coinciding with Ukrainian drone attacks in the Caucasus region. The missile exploded near the plane, causing significant damage to its fuselage.

The Baku-based AnewZ publication, citing sources within the Azerbaijani government, confirmed that the missile had been launched from a Pantsir-S air defense system.