Estonian parlt group extends condolences to Azerbaijan following plane crash

TALLINN - The Estonia-Azerbaijan parliamentary friendship group extends its condolences to the people of Azerbaijan in the wake of the Dec. 25 plane crash.

"The members of the Estonia-Azerbaijan parliamentary friendship group extend their deepest sympathies to the Azerbaijani people during this time of grief following the tragic plane crash on Dec. 25. We stand in solidarity with Azerbaijan and offer our sincere condolences to the families of the victims. We also support an immediate and thorough investigation to uncover the circumstances of the accident," members of the group stated in a joint message.

The Estonia-Azerbaijan parliamentary group is chaired by Riina Solman, with Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski serving as deputy chair. Members include Jaak Aab, Vadim Belobrovtsev, Züleyxa Izmailova, Aleksei Jevgrafov, Ester Karuse, Toomas Kivimägi, Aivar Kokk, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, Lauri Laats, Andres Metsoja, Eduard Odinets, Heljo Pikhof, Juku-Kalle Raid, Urmas Reinsalu, Aivar Sõerd, and Hendrik Johannes Terras.

The plane, traveling from Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, to Grozny, the capital of Chechnya in Russia, crashed near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, while preparing for an emergency landing. Of the 67 passengers on board, 38 died in the accident.