Critical Statement from Families of PS752 Victims Following Azerbaijani Plane Crash

The Association of Families of Victims of Flight PS752 accused the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of 'silence' regarding the potential role of Russia in the downing of an Azerbaijani passenger flight. This statement was released on Saturday, December 29, on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Ukrainian passenger plane disaster caused by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The association noted, 'If Russia's involvement in this incident is confirmed, this will be the third aircraft downed by Russian-backed forces around the world.' The statement continued, 'Flight MH17 was shot down by Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine, Flight PS752 was downed by the regime of Ali Khamenei, whose affiliations are clear to the world, and now Flight 8243 of Azerbaijan is downed by Russian air defense.' The families expressed solidarity with the families of the victims of Flight 8243 and called on international organizations to 'rectify their past mistakes.' An Azerbaijani passenger plane crashed on Wednesday, December 25, near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 of the 67 passengers and five crew members. Speculations arose regarding the possibility of the plane being targeted by Russian air defense systems. John Kirby, the White House spokesperson, reported on December 26 to ABC News about 'initial signs' suggesting the plane might have been shot down by a Russian anti-aircraft system. Subsequently, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Transport and the airline confirmed that the passenger plane crashed due to external interference. Azerbaijan officially declared that 'foreign interference' was the cause of the crash. Four sources in Azerbaijan confirmed to Reuters that the plane was downed by a Russian air defense system. However, Russian sources attempted to attribute the crash to 'natural factors.' The IRGC had previously shot down Flight PS752 on January 8, 2020, with a missile on the same day that Iran attacked the Ain al-Asad base in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Qassem Soleimani by the then U.S. President. Despite the risks posed by missile attacks in the region, Iran did not close its airspace to commercial flights, resulting in the deaths of all 176 passengers on Flight 752. While the IRGC's role in this incident was denied by Iranian officials for three days, several foreign officials, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and security officials from the U.S. and the U.K., pointed to evidence of the IRGC's missile hitting the plane in infrared satellite images. Families of the victims have filed numerous complaints against the Iranian government in international forums, with some cases still ongoing. Members of the victims' association have repeatedly condemned ICAO for its inaction and indifference in failing to condemn this tragedy.