A criminal case has been launched regarding the drone attack on civilian infrastructure in Nakhchivan.

Axar.az informs, citing the Press Service of the Azerbaijan Prosecutor General’s Office.

“On March 5, civilian infrastructure objects in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan were attacked from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran using two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with remotely controlled explosive warheads.

The initial investigation has established that one of the unmanned aerial vehicles landed on the terminal of Nakhchivan International Airport, while the other landed near an educational institution in the village of Shekerabad, Babek district.

The incident significantly damaged civil infrastructure, namely the administrative building of Nakhchivan International Airport and its operations. As the airport services were intentionally and unlawfully disrupted, the civilian aircraft scheduled to operate flight 264 on the Nakhchivan-Baku route was forced to return to Baku for safety reasons while in the air.

In addition, four civilians received bodily injuries as a result of the incident:

Staff on duty at Nakhchivan Airport:

- Valiyeva Reyhana Sabir, born in 1986,

- Zulfugarli Zulfugar Mammad, born in 1996,

- Asgarov Mehdi Matlab, born in 1996, and

- Jafarov Asad Vidadi oglu, born in 1998 - a passenger awaiting boarding.

The injured persons have been provided with the necessary medical assistance and are receiving ongoing treatment under hospital observation.

The Prosecutor General of the Republic of Azerbaijan has initiated a criminal case in connection with the incident. The preliminary investigation of the case has been delegated to the Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Prosecutors, in cooperation with other relevant state authorities, have examined the crime scene, collected material evidence, interviewed victims and witnesses. Relevant forensic expertise has been ordered, and numerous other investigative actions have been carried out.

Furthermore, technical investigations are also being conducted into the origin and flight path of the UAVs.

All circumstances of this attack, which was carried out against the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan in violation of the norms and principles of international law, will be investigated objectively, thoroughly, and comprehensively within the framework of the preliminary investigation, and the necessary measures will be taken to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable in accordance with the law.

The Prosecutor General's Office states that the targeting of civilians and strategic infrastructure is a gross violation of the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.

The public will be informed on further developments of the ongoing investigation,” the Prosecutor General's Office stated.