Kremlin disinformation and the causes of the aircraft crash in Azerbaijan

Kremlin disinformation and the causes of the aircraft crash in Azerbaijan

The cause of the crash of the Flight j2-8243 of the Azerbaijani Airlines on Christmas Day near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, is previously unknown. The flight writers were recovered by the crash site by Friday and the investigation is underway.

possible cause of the crash

initial indications indicate a possible cause: A US official informed CNN that a Russian air defense system could possibly have shot down the passenger plane. This version of the events-initially indicated by anonymous sources in Azerbaijan and later openly from the Azerbaijani MPs Rasim Musabeyov - seems to be gaining drive, at least in the international media.

reactions in Russia

The official picture in Russia is a little different. On Friday afternoon, the Russian state television broadcaster Rossiya-24 reported as the main message about the tragedy that representatives of the aircraft manufacturer Embraer in Kazakhstan was expected, but did not mention the possibility that the plane was shot down. In addition, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not comment on this catastrophe, in which at least 38 people were killed.

At a conference call with journalists, Peskov was asked whether Musabeyov's demands could be commented on after a Russian apology. He replied: "This aviation incident is the subject of an investigation, and until the conclusions are available, we will not see ourselves in a position to submit reviews."

public perception and possible consequences

Peskov's statements could indicate the tone for the Russian media, but obvious evidence of a shooting down-video material shows holes in the hull of the aircraft that are damaged by granate or rubbish-represent a PR dilemma for the Kremlin. According to the first data, citizens from Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan were on board; Several international airlines have now suspended flights to Russian cities.

The original goal of the aircraft-the Russian Republic of Chechnya, which is led by the loyal, Pro-Kremlin-Warlord Ramzan Kadyrov-makes the situation even more sensitive to the Russian government.

political observations and abnormal questions

In a Contribution on X noticed the vague initial reporting of the Russian media about the crash And wondered whether the Kremlin would ultimately take responsibility or not. "Will Moscow confuse, deny, deny contradictory narratives and force Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to a common lie by using its military, economic and diplomatic means?" Says Baunov, who again pulled parallels to deal with the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17

the crash of MH17 and its effects

for those who cannot remember: the shooting of the mh17 Ukraine through a Russian floor air rocket became a teaching example for Russian propaganda and disinformation. The crash cost 298 people and was accompanied by a flood of false and misleading information from Russia. The reports spread in the Russian media were confusing, contradictory and sometimes even bizarre: the Ukrainians had shot down the plane; President Vladimir Putin's machine was the real goal; Or the plane was loaded with a corpse.

However, the effect was the same, regardless of history. The disinformation around MH17 created confusion, distraction and noise that distracted the attention from the actual cause, a Russian rocket. A Dutch court finally came to the conclusion that MH17 was shot down by a Russian Buk rocket, which was fired by an area controlled by Pro-Russian separatists, and two Russians and a separatic Ukrainian were In Absentia for murder on a large scale .

future investigation

This judgment needed years to be achieved, and the investigation into the crash of the flight of the Azerbaijani Airlines has just started. It remains to be seen whether this examination also becomes obscurred by the fog wall of the disinformation.