Fun Reroute: Slovak PM's Moscow Trip Stymied by Baltic Airspace Shutdown
Airspace of Baltic Nations Denies Access for Fico's Flight to Moscow
Hey there! Let's chat about the not-so-standard route taken by the Slovakian Prime Minister, Robert Fico, on his way to Moscow for the World War II anniversary bash. You'd think a simple flight across Europe would be a breeze, right? Wrong! Thanks to the Baltic states, it'd be more like a wild goose chase!
Robert Fico, a die-hard Putin pal, found himself dodging air traffic controllers in the Baltics. Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia gave a big fat NO to letting his plane traverse their skies, forcing him to take a roundabout journey over Hungary, Romania, the Black Sea, and Georgia before finally dropping in on Dagestan, Russia[2][1][3]. That scenic detour added about two and a half hours to his total flying time. Talk about a bumpy ride!
The usual route takes European air traffic through Lithuanian airspace, but due to political squabbles in 2021, that option was off the table[2]. Taking the longer path was the only way to reach Moscow.
Fico took it all in stride, despite facing obstacles left and right. He did manage to join the party in Moscow, though it's said he kept his distance from the parade with Putin[2]. This made for one heck of a journey, and it's safe to say Fico and his traveling companions had quite the tale to tell upon their return!
Sources:- ntv.de- mdi/rts- [2] Enrichment: The Baltic states' refusal to allow Fico's plane to fly over their airspace was part of coordinated restrictions on official flights heading to Moscow for the Victory Day parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The bans reflect the Baltic states' opposition to official participation in events hosted by Russia amid ongoing geopolitical tensions[2].- [3] Enrichment: The usual flight time of about two and a half hours was extended to around five hours due to the detour[2][1][3].
- Despite the Slovakian Prime Minister, Robert Fico, being a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Slovakian PM's employment policy did not allow for a simple flight to Moscow, as the Baltic states denied overflights due to political reasons.
- Due to the Baltic airspace shutdown, Fico was forced to devise an alternative route for his flight, taking him over Hungary, Romania, the Black Sea, and Georgia before reaching Moscow, extending his travel time significantly.
- The community policy among the Baltic states did not allow for Fico's plane to pass through their airspace, leading to a series of coordinated restrictions on official flights headed to Moscow for the Victory Day parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of World War II's end.
- Although Fico's trip to Moscow took an unexpected turn, he maintained a composure usually seen in high-profile politicians and ultimately participated in the parade, albeit maintaining a distance from Putin.
