Azerbaijan May Target Civilian Aircraft

Azerbaijan will permit the destruction of aircraft that do not comply with special requirements for forced landings, as well as when there is no reliable information about the presence of passengers. This has been reported by Azerbaijani media.

The law has been discussed by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding the amendments to the "Rules for the Use of Air Defense Forces and Combat Equipment Against Aircraft and Flying Machines That Violate the State Border." Under the current regulation, firing on civilian aircraft was allowed if the aircraft were rendered inactive during flight and were without passengers. Even in this case, precautionary fire had to be opened first.