On January 14, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during a press conference summarizing Russian diplomacy in 2024, stated that the analysis of the "black boxes" from the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane crash near Aktau contradicted some initial media conclusions.

Lavrov explained that the black boxes were examined during a special meeting in Brazil, providing significant information that underscores the need for a thorough and lawful investigation. He emphasized avoiding unverified media reports, citing the structured relations between Russia and Azerbaijan as enabling prompt resolution of issues, including incidents such as the accidental shooting of a Russian helicopter during the Second Karabakh War and the Aktau plane crash. Lavrov appreciated Azerbaijan’s cooperation and Russia’s role in the investigation.

He highlighted the close cooperation between the Russian and Azerbaijani foreign ministries, particularly with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, extending across platforms like the UN and OSCE, as well as thematic issues like climate change. Lavrov mentioned the upcoming 29th Convention of the Framework Convention on Climate Change in Baku and expressed expectations for stronger bilateral and regional cooperation in 2025.

Lavrov affirmed the reliability of Russian-Azerbaijani relations, emphasizing regular contact between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev, who have promoted mutual projects, including the North-South corridor and regional transport initiatives. Addressing the shallowing of the Caspian Sea, Lavrov announced the creation of a bilateral working group and proposed expanding it into a five-party format with all Caspian littoral states.

He also noted established cooperation in security, counterterrorism, and organized crime, along with strengthening ties between the armed forces and special services of both countries.