Neither Slovakia nor any other country requested permission from Latvia for a flight to the Russian event on May 9, which Latvia considers part of military propaganda, said Diana Eglite, spokesperson for the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
She emphasized that Latvia's position is clear: as long as Russia continues its aggression against Ukraine, it cannot facilitate trips to such events. Therefore, as in previous years, permits for flights to events on May 9 will not be issued.
Eglite also added that in Europe, the memory of the victims of World War II is honored on May 8.
According to reports, Robert Fico stated that Latvia and Lithuania did not allow his plane to use their airspace for a flight to Moscow for the events on May 9. This was reported by the Slovak portal SME, citing his video address.
"Lithuania and Latvia have already informed that they will not allow crossing their territory on the way to Moscow," Fico said in a video posted on Facebook.
"Why do European Union countries not allow the prime minister of another EU country to fly over their territory?" he expressed dissatisfaction with this decision.
Fico added that he would find an alternative route, as he did last year when, according to him, Estonia prevented him. It was previously reported that last year the Baltic states also did not allow flights of foreign officials on their way to Moscow, where May 9 marks the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in World War II. Last year, Fico was forced to fly around — through Hungary, Romania, and the Black Sea. The route also had to be changed for the Serbian president's plane.
Fico and his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban are considered among the closest allies of Russian leader Vladimir Putin among EU country leaders.
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