On October 9, 2025, President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Dushanbe at the invitation of President Emomali Rahmon to attend the CIS Heads of State Council, according to the presidential news service. He was received at Dushanbe International Airport by Rustam Emomali, chair of the National Assembly of Tajikistan, and other officials.

In a one-on-one meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin opened with what he called “the most sensitive topic”, last December’s Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) incident over Russian airspace. Putin reiterated condolences and said the investigation was “nearing completion”, outlining preliminary causes: the presence of Ukrainian drones in the area that night; and a technical malfunction in Russia’s air-defence system whereby two missiles exploded near, but did not strike, the aircraft. He said damage most likely came from missile debris, that cockpit voice and flight-data recorders captured the sequence and ATC advice, and that Russia would provide compensation and a legal assessment of officials’ actions.

Aliyev thanked Putin for the detailed briefing and “personal oversight” of the probe, recalling that he called Putin from his aircraft on the day of the tragedy and skipped an informal CIS session in St Petersburg for that reason. Aliyev said Baku had “no doubt” the investigation would establish the facts objectively and welcomed Moscow addressing the matter publicly.

Despite tensions after the incident, Putin said bilateral trade rose about 6% last year and more than 16% so far in 2025, and praised “close” coordination on regional and multilateral issues under the two countries’ allied framework. Aliyev said every roadmap item was being implemented and that the agenda remained “extensive and positive”.

Pro-government media in Baku presented the Dushanbe meeting as evidence that bilateral relations have returned to a “stable and constructive” track after months of strain. Commentators highlighted Putin’s public apology for an incident on Russian territory and his pledge of compensation and accountability, portraying this as Moscow’s acceptance of responsibility. Some analysts in Baku linked the earlier chill to both the aviation episode and reports of violence against Azerbaijanis in Russian cities, arguing the Kremlin now seeks normalisation.

The messaging also echoed a familiar narrative, effectively “good tsar, bad boyars”, suggesting Putin himself was not personally at fault while bureaucratic or military errors were to blame. That framing underlined a political intent to compartmentalise the crisis and preserve strategic cooperation. The Kremlin indicated final investigative materials are forthcoming. Any durable reset will hinge on the promised compensation process and the legal assessments Putin referenced, alongside continued progress on trade, logistics and regional coordination.