"Brotherhood Between Serbs and Slovaks Remains Strong, As Evidenced by Vucic's Video Featuring Fico in the Kremlin Backdrop"
Vucic and Fico's Brotherly Bash in the Kremlin
Slovakia's Prime Minister skipped the Scandinavian route for Moscow, opting instead for a detour through Hungary, Romania, the Black Sea, and Georgia. You guessed it - Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania gave their runway a cold shoulder, unwilling to lend their airspace for the politician's flight.
A similar icy reception awaited Vucic, who, on previous occasions, found Latvia and Lithuania just as hesitant to open their skies for his plane. Diverting to Baku was the flight's unscheduled layover before resuming the journey to Russia.
Undeterred by foreign criticism, Vucic had filmed an address from Red Square the day prior, displaying a striking indifference to the world's disapproval of his Russian excursion.
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Laying Down the Law
The flight restrictions were not caprice, but rather a result of political sensitivity and diplomatic considerations. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania viewed the May 9 parades in Moscow as propaganda, given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Allowing these flights would've been seen as tacit support for these propaganda-laden events and Russia's European activities[1][3][4].
Moreover, these countries adhere to the EU's principles, advocating that participation in Russia-organized events should be avoided, particularly since Russia is mired in a European war[3][4]. Concerns also arose about how Vucic's visit could potentially impact Serbia's EU accession process, as Brussels had issued warnings regarding the repercussions of attending these events[5].
Estonia, being a proud member of both the EU and NATO, aligns its decisions with these organizations' broader policies, further legitimizing the refusal to accommodate flights for these events[2][4].
- In response to the May 9 parades in Moscow, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania chose not to lend their airspace for political leaders' flights, viewing it as a tacit support for the propaganda-laden events and Russia's European activities.
- The avoidance of Russia-organized events is a principle advocated by Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, who are members of the EU, in light of Russia's ongoing European war.
- Concerns were raised about how Serbian President Vucic's visit to Russia could potentially impact Serbia's EU accession process, as Brussels had issued warnings regarding the repercussions of attending these events.
- The refusal of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to accommodate flights for political leaders, like Vucic, aligns with their decisions that are based on the broader policies and legislations of organizations they are a part of, such as the EU and NATO.
- In the realm of politics and general news, the flight restrictions imposed on Vucic by Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are not arbitrary but stem from diplomatic sensitivity and political considerations regarding ongoing war-and-conflicts in Europe.
