Estonia has refused Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s request to use its airspace for a flight to Moscow to attend the May 9 parade. This decision reiterates the country’s stance against facilitating travel to Russia, which it views as an aggressor state.
According to Margus Tsahkna, Estonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the government’s position remains unchanged from last year. He stated, “Fico will not receive permission to use Estonian airspace for a flight to Moscow for the May 9 parade, an event aimed at glorifying the aggressor. We denied this request last year, and the same principle applies now.”
Tsahkna emphasized that no country should utilize Estonia’s territory to strengthen ties with Moscow while Russia continues to violate international law. He remarked, “Estonia’s position is clear—no nation can use our airspace to bolster relations with Russia as it persists in breaching international norms and engaging in aggression against Ukraine and the security of Europe as a whole.”
Estonia has a standard procedure for granting flight permissions for official visits by representatives of EU and NATO countries. However, authorities have made it clear that these protocols do not apply when the destination is the Russian Federation.
Estonia has reaffirmed its refusal to allow Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to use its airspace for a flight to Moscow, maintaining its position against supporting ties with Russia. This decision reflects the country's ongoing commitment to uphold international law and security in Europe.