Estonia, like Lithuania, prohibits the passage of flights heading to Moscow during Victory Day, according to Margus Tsakhna, minister of foreign affairs in Estonia's Baltic government.
Estonia's rejection of Moscow-bound flights on Victory Day
You heard it right – Estonia, just like Lithuania before it, has chuckled at Russia's Victory Day celebrations by banning flights to Moscow, as announced by Foreign Affairs Minister Margus Tsakhna.
So, what's behind the Estonian cold shoulder?
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Background
In a bold move, Estonia has shut its airspace and refused air access for flights heading to Moscow on May 9, Russia's Victory Day. The communication came straight from the Estonian authorities, with Minister Margus Tsahkna as the spokesperson[1]. This ban encompasses all flights, including those carrying VIPs, meant for Russia's Victory Day festivities[2][3].
Motives for the Ban
- Political Alignment and Security Concerns: The Baltic republic's decision stems from a united front by the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) to disallow flights accessing Moscow during a significant Russian event. This stance underscores political allegiance and is in sync with broader regional security strategies amid ongoing tensions between Russia and neighboring countries, especially in light of the Ukraine conflict[3].
- Tension Climb and Recent Attacks: The timing of the ban aligns with an escalation of hostilities. Ukraine recently executed a massive drone attack on Russian airspace, causing disruptions in various Russian cities, including Moscow. Consequently, the attacks led to airport restrictions and cancellations across Russia. In response, Estonia has taken preventive measures concerning its own airspace[5].
- Preventing VIP interface: Estonia has flat-out told VIP flights, even from countries like Cuba and Brazil, that they're not welcome to utilize its airspace on their way to Russia for the May 9 events. This rejection is seen as part of a broader diplomatic strategy aimed at limiting international communication with Russia during a sensitive moment[2][3].
To sum it up, Estonia's decision to block Moscow-bound flights on Victory Day is rooted in a mix of political solidarity, security concerns, and the aspiration to restrict international involvement in Russian commemorative events at a time of escalated regional tensions[1][3][5].
- Lithuania's previous rejection of Moscow-bound flights on Victory Day appears to have been mirrored by Estonia's decision, causing a stir in politics.
- The move by Estonia to deny air access for flights to Moscow on May 9 could be a response to the recent war-and-conflicts between Russia and neighboring countries, particularly Ukraine.
- Estonia's policy-and-legislation, as shown by the airspace ban, seems to be part of a broader strategy to limit international communication and prevent VIP interactions with Russia during sensitive moments.
- The general news headlines are filled with updates about the ongoing tension between Russia and its neighbors, and the move by Estonia to shut its airspace could potentially lead to further war-and-conflicts or policy-and-legislation changes in the region.
