A criminal case has been initiated under four articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding the drone attack on civilian infrastructure in Nakhchivan.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the Press Service of the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan released information on the matter.
According to the statement, on March 5, two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with remote-controlled explosive warheads were launched from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, targeting civilian infrastructure in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. A criminal case has been opened under Articles 214.2.1, 214.2.3, 214.2.4 (terrorism) and 270-1.3 (actions creating a threat to aviation safety) of the Criminal Code, and a preliminary investigation is currently underway.
Official investigations have been launched into the drone attack on civilian infrastructure in Nakhchivan. The Press Service of the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan issued an urgent statement regarding the incident.
Attack details: Where were the UAVs controlled from?
On March 5, an attack was carried out against civilian objects in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic using two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with remote-controlled explosive warheads launched from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Preliminary investigative actions established that one of the drones struck the terminal building of Nakhchivan International Airport, while the other fell near an educational institution located in Shekarabad village of the Babek district.
Casualties and changes to flight schedules
As a result of the incident, the administrative building of Nakhchivan International Airport sustained serious damage. Due to security reasons, the airport's flight schedule was disrupted. A civilian aircraft operating Flight 264 on the Nakhchivan-Baku route was forced to return and land in Baku while mid-flight.
During the attack, four civilians sustained various degrees of bodily injuries. The injured include airport employees and a passenger:
- Reyhana Sabir gizi Valiyeva, born in 1986 (employee);
- Zulfugar Mammad oglu Zulfugarli, born in 1996 (employee);
- Mehdi Matlab oglu Asgarov, born in 1996 (employee);
- Asad Vidadi oglu Jafarov, born in 1998 (passenger waiting for boarding).
The victims have been provided with appropriate medical assistance and are currently continuing their treatment under medical supervision in the hospital.
Criminal case and international legal norms
The Prosecutor General of the Republic of Azerbaijan has initiated a criminal case under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code. The preliminary investigation has been entrusted to the Investigative Department of the Prosecutor General's Office.
Currently, prosecution officials, together with relevant state agencies, are inspecting the scene, collecting physical evidence, and taking witness statements. At the same time, technical expertise has been ordered regarding the origin and control routes of the UAVs.
The Prosecutor General's Office declares that the targeting of the civilian population and strategic infrastructure objects is a gross violation of the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law. All circumstances of this attack will be objectively investigated, and the prosecution of those responsible within the framework of the law will be ensured.
Necessary investigative and operational measures regarding the criminal case are ongoing, and additional information will be provided to the public.
The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is an exclave of Azerbaijan, sharing borders with Armenia, Iran, and Türkiye. Given its strategic location, the security of its civilian infrastructure, particularly the Nakhchivan International Airport, is of paramount importance to the regional stability of Azerbaijan. This incident marks a significant escalation in regional security concerns, prompting a comprehensive legal and technical response from Baku.
