US EditionBaltics Block Slovakia's Fico From Using Airspace to Get to Russia for May 9
The refusal adds to tensions over Fico’s planned attendance at Russia’s Victory Day, which European officials say should be boycotted.
- On Saturday, April 18, Lithuania and Latvia announced they will not allow Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to fly through their territories to Moscow for Russia's Victory Day celebrations in May.
- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban are widely regarded as Russia's closest allies within the European Union, with Fico attending the Moscow celebration last year despite boycott calls.
- Criticizing the airspace ban, Fico stated, "Member states of the European Union do not allow the Prime Minister of another member state of the European Union to fly to these territories."
- Fico stated he will "definitely find another route" to Moscow, noting he faced similar restrictions when Estonia blocked his flight path last year.
- Slovakia has threatened to veto the European Union's 20th sanctions package against Russia unless Bratislava receives assurances regarding the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Russian oil via Ukraine.
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Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico wants to travel to the "Day of Victory" Parade in Morskau. As in the previous year, he will be refused an overflight in the Baltic States.
The authorities of Latvia and Lithuania will not allow the aircraft of Prime Minister Robert Fitso of Slovakia to use their airspace to fly to Moscow and take part in a military parade on the occasion of 9 May, said Fitso himself.
Baltics block Slovakia's Fico from using airspace to get to Russia for May 9
Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200) said Estonia will once again not allow the flights of officials heading to Moscow for May 9 to attend Russia's Victory Day parade to travel through its airspace on the way.
Lithuania and Latvia will not allow Robert Fitso to use their airspace to travel to Moscow, where victory day events in Russia will take place in May, the Slovak Prime Minister himself announced on Saturday.
The Slovak Prime Minister would travel to the Russian capital for the Victory Day military parade in May.
Fico also traveled to Moscow on Russia's Victory Day a year earlier, despite opposition from the EU.
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