MOSCOW, December 28. /TASS/. Staffers from Russia’s Investigative Committee and Prosecutor General’s Office are working together with their Azerbaijani colleagues investigating the plane crash near Aktau in Kazakhstan, the Russian and Azerbaijani presidents, Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev, noted in a phone conversation.
According to the Kremlin press service, "The Russian Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case under Article 263 of the Criminal Code (violation of the rules for traffic safety and operation of the air transportation systems). Initial investigation is underway, with authorities questioning civilian and military specialists."
The press service noted that "two officials from the Prosecutor General’s Office of Azerbaijan are currently in Grozny, working together with representatives of the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation." Cooperation is underway along the lines of relevant agencies from Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25. The plane carried 67 people, including 62 passengers, mainly citizens of Azerbaijan, as well as nationals of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, and five crew members. According to the latest reports, 38 people, including seven Russians, were killed, while 29 others survived. A special flight sent by Russia’s Emergencies Ministry has transported nine Russian citizens, including a child, injured in the air crash, from Aktau.