"We can clearly say today that the plane was shot down by Russia," President Ilham Aliyev said in a televised statement

The European Union has called for an immediate and independent investigation into the Azerbaijan Airlines crash, which killed 38 people and left dozens injured. Azerbaijan's president has accused Russia of downing the plane,

"Those responsible must be punished, brought to criminal responsibility, and compensation must be paid," President Ilham Aliyev said.