Slovak Prime Minister to Attend Moscow Victory Day Despite Baltic Airspace Ban

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced that he will attend Russia’s Victory Day ceremony in Moscow despite Lithuania and Latvia banning flights through their airspace. Fico stated that this restriction will not prevent his planned trip in May, and he will choose an alternative route.

According to Lithuanian Radio and Television, Lithuanian and Latvian authorities have informed Bratislava in advance that they will not allow the use of their skies for flights heading to Moscow. This decision comes despite all three countries being members of the European Union.

Fico criticized the move, questioning why EU member states should block the airspace of another member state’s Prime Minister. He described the decision as contrary to the spirit of cooperation within the EU.

The Slovak Prime Minister added that if this route remains closed, he will find another way to reach Moscow; just as last year, after Estonia denied him airspace access, he took an alternate route.

Last year, despite calls from some European officials, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, to boycott the Victory Day ceremony, Fico attended events related to this occasion in Moscow. Victory Day in Russia is held annually to commemorate the end of World War II.