Georgian PM sends condolences to Azerbaijani President over passenger jet crash

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday sent his condolences to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev over the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the Kazakh city of Aktau earlier during the day.

 In his letter, the PM stressed his Government and citizens “stand with the fraternal Azerbaijani people”.

On behalf of the Georgian Government and the Georgian people, we express our condolences to you and the people of Azerbaijan. In this time of grief, we stand with the fraternal Azerbaijani people and express our condolences to the families of the deceased [...] We wish a swift recovery to those who were injured”, he said.

Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the plane carried 67 people, including 62 passengers and five crew members of Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Russian and Kyrgyz nationalities.

Preliminary reports have said 32 people survived the incident.