Azerbaijani President offers condolences to Russian counterpart as Tu-154 plane crashes near Sochi

Baku, December 25, AZERTAC Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a message of condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a Tu-154 plane of the Defense Ministry crashed near Sochi on Sunday, killing all of more than 90 people onboard. “I am deeply shocked by the news of heavy casualties after the crash of a Tu-154 plane,” the Azerbaijani President said in his message. “On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my deepest condolences to you, the loved ones and relatives of those who died, and whole people of Russia,” President Ilham Aliyev said.