Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that Latvia and Lithuania have refused to allow his government aircraft to use their airspace for a planned flight to Moscow. Fico intended to attend Russia's annual Victory Day military parade on May 9, commemorating the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
In a video address posted on his official Facebook page, Fico confirmed the airspace denial. He criticized the decision, framing it as a restriction on his diplomatic movements. The Slovak government plane was scheduled to fly over the territories of the two Baltic nations, which are both NATO and European Union members.
The governments of Latvia and Lithuania have maintained a consistent policy of restricting flights to and from Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This includes denying overflight permissions for state aircraft traveling to Russia for events seen as supporting the Russian government. A spokesperson for Lithuania's foreign ministry confirmed the decision was in line with the country's stance towards Russia.
Fico, who returned to power in late 2023, has been a vocal critic of Western military aid to Ukraine and has called for a negotiated peace. His planned attendance at the Moscow parade, which typically showcases Russian military hardware, has drawn criticism from some European partners who view it as a show of solidarity with the Kremlin during its war against Ukraine.
