Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in a telephone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin apologized for the destruction of the Mi-24 helicopter in the sky over Armenia, the press service of the Azerbaijani president reports.
"President Aliyev asked to convey his condolences to the families and friends of the victims, as well as wished speedy recovery to the injured pilot," the report says.
According to Aliyev, the incident "occurred because of the tragic accident that the helicopter was mistaken for an Armenian one". Aliyev confirmed Baku's readiness to pay compensation to Russia, as well as to investigate and punish the perpetrators.
A Russian Mi-24 helicopter was shot down over Armenia near the border with Azerbaijan on Monday. Two crew members were killed and another was injured. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry admitted that the Russian helicopter was shot down by the republic's armed forces by mistake and said Baku was ready to pay compensation to Russia.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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Based on materials from TASS