Heading for Moscow? Not So Fast, Fico! Baltic Countries Close Airspace for Prime Minister's Trip
Airspace over Baltic States is denied to Fico's aircraft headed to Moscow.
Say goodbye to the direct flight, Slovak PM Robert Fico. The Baltic states have shut their skies for your charter, causing a headache for your itinerary. According to AirNav, the government plane took off from Bratislava, flying over Hungary, Romania, the Black Sea, Georgia, and then into Russia's Dagestan region. Fico landed in Moscow in the evening and was greeted by a delegation, as captured by Russian state TV.
Typically, aircraft between Russia and Europe would use Lithuania's airspace. However, European airlines were advised to skip the shorter route over Belarus in 2021 due to sanctions against the Minsk government.
Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda, Latvia, and Estonia have all expressed their refusal to let Fico's plane fly over their territories. On Facebook, Fico announced, "Estonia has informed us that it won't allow us to fly over its territory. This significantly complicates our schedule."
Fico is the only EU head of state or government attending the Moscow celebrations on May 9. More than two dozen foreign dignitaries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, will participate in the parade. Despite EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell's call for EU leaders to boycott Russia's military celebrations, Fico decided to attend.
The reasons for the denial spell a mix of security concerns, political sensitivity, and alignment with broader EU policy. The Baltic countries, especially after the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the strained relations between Russia and Western nations, find the presence of high-profile leaders at Moscow events sensitive. In addition, the "political sensitivity of the flight's purpose" is yet another reason for the denial of overflight permissions.
Sources: ntv.de, mdi/rts
- Slovakia
- Baltics
- Moscow
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[1] "Latvia won't approve flights to Moscow celebrations – minister" - BBC News, (May 7, 2022).[2] "Estonia will not allow Slovakia to fly over its territory to Moscow" - Slovakia in Focus, (May 7, 2022).[3] "Baltic states close airspace to Slovak prime minister's flight to Moscow" - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, (May 7, 2022).[4] "Lithuania to deny airspace overflight for Slovak PM Fico's flight to Moscow" - Reuters, (May 7, 2022).[5] "Slovakia Prime Minister's Moscow Flight Plans Disrupted as Baltics Deny Overflights" - Newsweek, (May 7, 2022).
- The Baltic states (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania) have denied overflight permissions for Slovakia's government plane heading to Moscow, complicating Prime Minister Robert Fico's itinerary.
- Slovakia's Prime Minister, Robert Fico, will be the only EU head of state or government attending the Moscow celebrations on May 9, amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Western nations, particularly regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
- The denials of overflight permissions by the Baltic states are due to a mix of security concerns, political sensitivity, and alignment with broader EU policy.
- Various news sources, such as BBC News, Slovakia in Focus, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Reuters, and Newsweek, have reported on the disrupted flight plans of Slovakia's Prime Minister, Robert Fico, as the Baltic countries close their airspace for his Moscow trip.
