Ilham Aliyev said in an interview with Al Arabiya TV channel that Azerbaijan is not responsible for the worsening relations with Moscow, emphasizing the country's constructive and legitimate approach. He expressed disappointment with the incident with the Azerbaijani civilian aircraft shot down by Russian air defense forces and, in particular, dissatisfaction with the position of the Russian Federation.

Aliyev pointed to the lack of a proper response, comparing the situation with the incident when the Azerbaijani side accidentally shot down a Russian helicopter during the Second Karabakh War, which was followed by immediate apologies and compensation.

"We have not seen anything like this from Russia. That tragic event on November 9 and our behavior then give us reason to expect the same attitude towards Azerbaijan, because the two countries call themselves friends. But this was a big surprise. And they still have not said what happened. So this is, of course, a very serious situation in our bilateral relations. But we did not want these relations to deteriorate,” Aliyev noted.

Aliyev also mentioned the unjustified attacks on Azerbaijanis in Russia, including cases of torture and murder, which he considered an unprecedented act. He stressed that Azerbaijan will not tolerate aggression or disrespect and expects a respectful attitude in line with the friendly ties between the countries.