Tokayev: Unity of peoples of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan shone brightly after Aktau air disaster

Kazakhstan shares sincere feelings with Azerbaijan, a nation with which it shares the shores of the ancient Caspian Sea, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during the 34th session of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, according to Report.

"Peace and stability are not gifts bestowed by fate. They are the result of our cohesion and our joint, tireless efforts. We once again witnessed this last year when the air disaster near Aktau occurred. Our citizens rushed to help the victims. They stood in lines to donate blood. They laid flowers at the Azerbaijani embassy. The whole world admired the unity and selflessness of our people," he noted.

According to Tokayev, mercy, compassion, and kindness are key traits of the Kazakh national character.

On December 25, 2024, an AZAL passenger plane operating the Baku–Grozny flight crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan. Of the 67 people on board, 38 died, and 29 survived.

Preliminary reports indicate that the crash was caused by physical and technical external interference in Russian airspace.