The Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan issued a statement on the plane crash in Aktau

Russia is studying all the causes of the Baku—Grozny plane crash, including external interference, the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office said in a statement on December 30.

The ministry clarified that the investigation into the criminal case initiated in connection with the crash of the Embraer 190 aircraft operating the Baku — Grozny flight and owned by Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC, which occurred on December 25 near the city of Aktau, continues.

It is noted that based on Aliyev's instructions, Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev has been in contact with Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan Berik Asylov, Prosecutor General of Russia Igor Krasnov, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation Alexander Bastrykin, as well as Brazilian Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet since the first day of the incident.

"For a comprehensive, objective and complete investigation of the incident, large—scale investigative actions were carried out at the scene with the participation of professional investigators and experts from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Brazil," the statement said.

During the discussions with his Kazakh counterpart, Kamran Aliyev exchanged views on the correct legal assessment of the collected evidence, examination of the scene, collection of primary evidence and other important aspects. He expressed gratitude for the comprehensive support provided in conducting joint investigative and procedural actions.

During the talks with Krasnov, the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan noted that Russian colleagues provided the necessary support to the staff of the prosecutor's office sent on a business trip to Grozny, "stressed the importance of effective cooperation in the investigation of the criminal case and the exchange of evidence collected by both sides."

Alexander Bastrykin informed Kamran Aliyev about the creation of an investigative group consisting of professional investigators and criminologists to conduct a full, comprehensive and objective investigation of the criminal case.

"He said that the causes and circumstances of the plane crash are being studied, including external interference, and intensive measures are being taken to identify the perpetrators and bring them to criminal responsibility," the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office said in a statement.