Slovak Leader Claims EU Nation Attempted to Sabotage His Trip to Moscow
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has accused Estonia, a fellow EU member-state, of attempting to obstruct his planned visit to Moscow for the Victory Day parade on May 9, which commemorates the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany...
TroibNews 
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has accused Estonia, a fellow EU member-state, of attempting to obstruct his planned visit to Moscow for the Victory Day parade on May 9, which commemorates the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany by the Soviet Union.
On Wednesday, Estonia closed its airspace to Fico’s plane. Margus Tsahkna, the Baltic state’s foreign minister, stated, “Russia is a country that launched and continues a war in Europe,” and emphasized that “participation in propaganda events organized by them should be ruled out” for EU representatives.
In a video message posted on Facebook later that day, Fico expressed his frustration, saying, “Estonia informed us that it will not allow us to fly over its territory despite the fact that Slovakia has a year-round permit to use Estonian airspace for our government wing.” He characterized the Estonian government's actions as “a deliberate attempt to thwart my visit to Moscow on the occasion of the official celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.”
Fico further described the airspace closure as “extremely disruptive,” noting that it could hinder his participation in the celebratory events in Moscow scheduled for Thursday evening. He mentioned that the Bratislava government is seeking an “alternative route” to ensure his arrival in the Russian capital in time for the wreath-laying ceremony and the parade on Friday.
Konstantin Kosachev, the vice speaker of the Russian parliament's upper chamber, commented to Argumenty I Fakty newspaper that the airspace closure was a “hostile” action from Tallinn aimed at Russia and its allies. He suggested that the Baltic nations have not reconciled with the outcomes of the Second World War, claiming that for them, “May 9 is not a day of victory, but a day of defeat.”
Earlier, both Latvia and Lithuania denied their airspace to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who was also on his way to the Victory Day parade. As a result, Vucic had to take a more complicated route via Bulgaria, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Georgia to reach Moscow on Wednesday.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
On Wednesday, Estonia closed its airspace to Fico’s plane. Margus Tsahkna, the Baltic state’s foreign minister, stated, “Russia is a country that launched and continues a war in Europe,” and emphasized that “participation in propaganda events organized by them should be ruled out” for EU representatives.
In a video message posted on Facebook later that day, Fico expressed his frustration, saying, “Estonia informed us that it will not allow us to fly over its territory despite the fact that Slovakia has a year-round permit to use Estonian airspace for our government wing.” He characterized the Estonian government's actions as “a deliberate attempt to thwart my visit to Moscow on the occasion of the official celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.”
Fico further described the airspace closure as “extremely disruptive,” noting that it could hinder his participation in the celebratory events in Moscow scheduled for Thursday evening. He mentioned that the Bratislava government is seeking an “alternative route” to ensure his arrival in the Russian capital in time for the wreath-laying ceremony and the parade on Friday.
Konstantin Kosachev, the vice speaker of the Russian parliament's upper chamber, commented to Argumenty I Fakty newspaper that the airspace closure was a “hostile” action from Tallinn aimed at Russia and its allies. He suggested that the Baltic nations have not reconciled with the outcomes of the Second World War, claiming that for them, “May 9 is not a day of victory, but a day of defeat.”
Earlier, both Latvia and Lithuania denied their airspace to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who was also on his way to the Victory Day parade. As a result, Vucic had to take a more complicated route via Bulgaria, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Georgia to reach Moscow on Wednesday.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
