Ten employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MES) were presented with the "For Cooperation" medal, awarded by the Minister of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Kamaladdin Heydarov​.

Axar.az reports that according to the information provided by Azerbaijan’s Consulate General in Aktau, a ceremony was held on February 18 at the Mangistau Regional Administration building.

The event was attended by the regional governor, the head of the Kazakh Ministry of Emergency Situations' regional department, the mayor of Aktau, the head of the Kazakh Ministry of Internal Affairs' regional department, media representatives, and other officials.

During the event, Azerbaijani Consul Aykhan Suleymanli expressed that the Kazakh side had shown sensitivity towards the recent tragedy.

According to him, following the crash, a highly efficient search and rescue operation was immediately launched, emergency medical assistance was provided to the injured, and support was extended in bringing the surviving Azerbaijani citizens and the bodies of the deceased to Azerbaijan, as well as in addressing all related matters.

The Consul General informed the participants of the event that on the day of the tragedy, the regional administration placed several tables in front of the Consulate, laid wreaths on them, and wrote slogans in Kazakh on the Consulate’s wall: "Local residents rushed to the hospital to donate blood for the injured, and only a brotherly people could do this in such difficult times."

At the end of his speech, Aykhan Suleymanli expressed his deep gratitude, on behalf of the Azerbaijani state and people and personally, to the governor of Mangistau region, Nurdaulet Kilybay, the heads of the region’s law enforcement agencies, medical staff, and the representatives of the Kazakh people who assisted during the tragedy. He also emphasized that the Azerbaijani people would never forget this act of kindness.

Later, the Consul General presented the medals to the Kazakhstan MES employees who demonstrated courage and professionalism during the rescue of the passengers of the crashed plane, congratulated them, and took a commemorative photo.

A group of employees from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan, who took part in the rescue operation following the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight near Aktau International Airport on December 25, 2024, were awarded by Azerbaijan's Minister of Emergency Situations, Colonel General Kamaladdin Heydarov.