Foreign leaders’ requests to use Estonian airspace to attend Russia’s May 9 celebrations were “out of the question”, Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200) said on May 7, following media reports the Baltic States had denied requests from visiting dignitaries.
On May 9, dozens of foreign leaders will attend a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Moscow. European and NATO leaders are mostly boycotting the event, as relations with Russia have plummeted since it launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 7 afternoon said Estonian airspace could not be used for travelling to and from Moscow for the Victory Day parade.
“The use of Estonian airspace to go to Moscow for the May 9 parade is out of the question and Estonia does not intend to support the event in any way,” Tsahkna said in a statement. “Moreover, we have stressed to our European Union colleagues that as Russia is a country that launched and continues a war in Europe, participation in propaganda events organised by them should be ruled out.”
Estonia has already banned flights to or from Moscow for Cuban and Brazilian VIP flights, and permissions for VIP flights to Moscow for the May 9 celebrations will be withheld (or, if necessary, suspended).
On May 7, media outlets reported that Latvia and Lithuania had refused to allow Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic to travel through their airspace to attend the events in Moscow.
Latvia-based outlet Meduza, citing Serbian news outlets Vecernje novosti and Kurir, wrote that both Lithuania and Latvia had denied permission for Vucic’s plane to travel through their airspace on the way to Russia.
Latvian authorities denied the overflight, citing “the political sensitivity of the flight’s purpose,” the outlets said. Lithuanian officials reportedly cited “technical and diplomatic sensitivity” in their refusal.
Both Latvia and Lithuania confirmed they blocked Vucic’s flight on May 7 afternoon after initially refusing to comment publicly on the issue, public broadcaster LRT reported. They will also not grant access to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Brita Kikas said Serbia did not seek permission to use Estonian airspace, but Estonia’s position aligned with Latvia’s and Lithuania’s.
Kikas said Slovakia could use Estonia’s airspace without requesting to, as it granted overflight permission annually to NATO and EU members.
She added that the Civil Aviation Authority had been notified of Fico’s flight. (ERR)