BAKU: Azerbaijan's president said on Monday (Jan 6) that Russia was "guilty" over the downing of an airline last month that Baku says was shot by Russian air defences. An Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 1

In the crash’s aftermath, Azerbaijan has unleashed rare and stinging criticism of Russia, with the country’s president saying Moscow’s response has caused “surprise, regret and rightful indignation.”

Russia’s failure to let the plane land and its refusal to take responsibility for the crash are upsetting a key partner.

Following Azerbaijan's president calling for Moscow to accept blame for downing an Azerbaijani plane, there is growing public anger toward Russia for its apparent attempts to sidestep responsibility for the incident.

Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Baku to the Russian city of Grozny when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan.

A passenger plane crashed in Kazakhstan yesterday morning. It was probably shot down by Russia, Reuters reports. According to the agency's sources, Russian air defense shot down the Azerbaijan Airlines plane.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Sunday demanded that Russia admit that it fired at an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet before it crashed, accusing Moscow of initially trying to cover up the cause of the fatal disaster.

An Azerbaijan Airlines flight to the southern Russian town of Mineralnie Vody turned back to Baku on Friday after being told a chunk of airspace in southern Russia had been closed, Russia's TASS news agency reported.

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev says the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed last week was shot down by Russia, albeit unintentionally.

Azerbaijan's President accuses Russia of downing plane, demands apology and punishment for "criminal" act, sparking diplomatic tensions.