UK rejects Putin apology over deadly Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash
UK rejects Putin apology over deadly Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash
The Russian president has apologised to his Azerbaijani counterpart for what he called a "tragic incident" - but stopped short of taking responsibility.
Summary
The UK has rejected Vladimir Putin’s apology over the Azerbaijan Airlines crash, which killed 38 people and injured 29, and called for a “full and independent” investigation.
The UK Foreign Office criticized Putin’s apology, stating it “fails to recognise that the reckless and irresponsible actions of the Russian State pose an acute and direct threat to the interests and national security of other states.”
The plane, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed in Kazakhstan amid Russian air defense activity.
Evidence suggests it may have been misidentified and struck by a Russian missile.
Considering that this is what now, the fourth "misidentified" plane struck by a Russian missile? I think it's less a case of misidentification and more a case of weapons testing.
And really shoddy equipment
I don't see any evidence for it not being accidental. There isn't really a good reason for them to shoot down random passenger planes, and a lot of reasons for avoiding that. I also don't find it hard to believe that there are problems with equipment quality and training.
Still, absolutely horrific.
There's still a lot of flights through Russian territory.
Korean 007 could have been intentional (I believe the pilot involved still claims it was a military plane) but Hanlon's razor still applies here. They're firing a lot of SAMs at many targets without good controls.
The US is barely better; they shot down one (nearly two) of their own fighters about a week ago and then there's the Vincennes incident.
Really digging with the “US is barely better” by going back to 1988…
This fighter jet incident last month was definitely an unexpected incident, but a far cry from shooting a civilian aircraft out of either our own airspace, or a surrounding sovereign country’s airspace.
This whataboutism is hilarious if not so misguided simply for trying to say “America bad too.”
Honestly, why even bring up the US? It’s not like as if these stories have to do with us…
Hanlon's razor does not apply when politics are involved. Especially with Russia, since we know their military is full of murderous assholes.
The plane, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed in Kazakhstan amid Russian air defense activity.
The lengths people will go to avoid saying "shot down".
what does the UK have to do with this?? they're not a global power like they think they are anymore
NATO member with nuclear strike capability who have a "special relationship" with daddy America.
Yeah they're definitely weak
...and permanent member of the UN security council.
I agree with your characterisation of the UK, but I also think that any country denouncing another's actions has power — it may affect how other countries actions towards Russia if nothing else.
Perhaps not, but who knows about Putin's values.
Russians used to respect the UK at least.
And, well, technically, Charles III is the had of the Commonwealth of Nations despite it being just symbolic. That's a third of the population or the world.
It's not like the US is going to do anything about it. So being a big international superpower basically doesn't count for anything here.
Fairly sure was actually shut down on purpose. Russia is like that.
They don't need a reason, they just need a missile, and they certainly have a missile.
It was a flight on the way to Russia with plenty of Russians on board. I doubt they take pleasure in shooting down their countrymen, if anything.
Probably mistook it for a military plane and didn't bother to confirm, same as with MH17.
They in the sense of all Russians? All Russian soldiers? I don't think we should let the current conflict, caused by decisions of authoritarian leadership, lead us into vilifying a whole people.