Azerbaijani journalists have released a recording containing an order to open fire on an AZAL flight, which resulted in the plane crashing near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on 25 December.

Source : Minval Politika, an Azerbaijani Russian-language information and analytical portal, as reported by European Pravda

Details : Journalists stated that their editorial office has received an anonymous letter containing materials about the aircraft shot down while approaching the Russian city of Grozny

The letter reportedly contains an explanatory note from air defence system commander Dmitry Paladychuk, who claims the aircraft was engaged under orders from the Russian Defence Ministry.

Minval Politika also received video footage, audio recordings and information about the poor condition of the equipment.

Quote from the letter : "At 08:13:30, I gave the command to fire on the target. At 08:13:33, a missile was launched from the guide rail. At 08:13:47, the BM-72V6 central computer system issued a message that the target had been missed. At 08:13:48, I gave the command to fire again."

The letter. Photo: Minval Politika

Details : The journalists also released a fragment of an audio recording purportedly featuring a male voice giving coordinates that match those in the written report, followed by the command, "Fire! I said fire!"

An explosion is heard, then the same voice says, "Again! One more time!" after a report that the target was missed.

The journalists have not released the full recordings, as they are still to be examined by investigative authorities. They emphasise that they cannot verify the authenticity of the letter, although it bears the captain’s signature. However, the audio recordings are considered fairly credible, as the information they contain corresponds closely.

Background : 

• On 25 December, an Embraer aircraft of Azerbaijan Airlines en route from Baku to Grozny crashed near Aktau (the administrative centre of Kazakhstan's Mangistau Oblast). The crash killed 38 people. 
• At the time, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev stated that the plane had been shot down from the ground. He also asserted that Russia should acknowledge its responsibility, issue a timely apology to Azerbaijan – a country considered a friend – and communicate this publicly.
• Rashad Nabiyev, Azerbaijan's Minister of Digital Development and Transport, mentioned that eyewitness testimonies and puncture marks on the plane's fuselage indicated external interference, with the exact type of weapon used to be determined by the investigation.
• On 4 February, a source within Azerbaijan's government told Reuters that they had conclusive evidence that the plane was downed by a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system.
• On the same day, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport released a report containing preliminary findings on the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash. The initial examination of the aircraft debris revealed multiple puncture and non-puncture damages of various shapes and sizes across the aircraft's tail section, vertical stabiliser, horizontal stabilisers and rudders.

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