Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone today with his Kazakh counterpart Kassam-Jomart Tokayev to offer his condolences for those killed in the plane crash on December 25 in Kazakhstan, world agencies reported, quoted by BTA, citing the Kremlin press service.
The Azerbaijan Airlines flight en route from Baku to the capital of the Chechen Republic, Grozny, crashed on Wednesday near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan after deviating from its course in southern Russia, where Ukrainian drones were attacking several cities, Reuters recalls. At least 38 people died.
“The heads of state exchanged condolences in connection with the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane near the city of Aktau on December 25, with Russian and Kazakh citizens on board,“ the Kremlin said in a statement, quoted by TASS.
The Kremlin press service also said that the two presidents agreed to maintain constant contact regarding the investigation of the crash.
Kazakhstan will attract specialists from Russia, Azerbaijan and the aircraft manufacturer, Brazil, to decipher the black boxes of the plane that crashed near Aktau, the statement said.
“The presidents stressed the importance of ensuring a comprehensive and transparent investigation as part of the ongoing investigative measures,“ the press service of the Kazakh president said in a statement.