Latvian and Lithuanian authorities have officially denied Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico a flight corridor to Russia. The politician intended to use their airspace to attend the May 9 Victory Day military parade in Moscow.
This is not the first time Fico has faced such logistical hurdles. In 2025, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland similarly refused to allow the Slovak leader’s plane to pass. On that occasion, Robert Fico took a longer detour, flying through the airspace of Hungary, Romania, the Black Sea, and Georgia.
At the time, Latvian authorities justified the refusal by citing the “political sensitivity of the flight’s purpose.” Lithuania referred to “technical and diplomatic sensitivity.”
The Slovak Prime Minister stated today: “Lithuania and Latvia have already informed us that they will not allow us to fly over their territory during the flight to Moscow. So what? EU member states will not allow the prime minister of another EU member state to fly over their territory. I will definitely find another route, just like last year.“
Latvia and Lithuania’s refusal to Robert Fico: Diplomatic reasons in plain language
Diplomatic language is designed to send tough signals without resorting to direct insults. The phrasing used by Vilnius and Riga is a classic example of how European Union countries express political indignation politely but categorically. NEWSROOM IN translated these phrases into plain language:
Latvia: “Political sensitivity of the flight’s purpose”
Plain translation: “You are flying to Moscow for a military parade held by a state currently waging a full-scale war against Ukraine. For us, this is not just a holiday, but a demonstration of the Kremlin’s military might. We view your visit as political support for the Russian authorities. We are categorically against such gestures and do not intend to help you get there even indirectly by providing our airspace.”
Riga is explicitly stating that the issue is not the aircraft or the Slovak Prime Minister personally, but exclusively where he is going and why.
Lithuania: “Technical and diplomatic sensitivity”
Plain translation:
- Diplomatic part: “Your visit to Moscow contradicts the general European Union policy of isolating Russia. For us, this is morally and politically unacceptable.”
- Technical part: “Since it is difficult to directly ban the flight of a government aircraft from an EU and NATO member state, we will use bureaucracy. We will find a traffic control reason, citing safety rules, air traffic management regulations, or the specifics of the sanctions regime to legally close the passage. Do not try to argue — we simply will not grant you a corridor.”
This approach allows Lithuania to avoid accusations of directly violating EU freedom of movement treaties by shifting the political conflict into the realm of aviation regulations.
Both Baltic countries have coordinated their efforts to send Robert Fico an unambiguous message. His attempts to benefit from the European Union while simultaneously attending parades in Moscow are met with rejection. Closing the airspace is a demonstrative act of political boycott that forces the Slovak Prime Minister to spend extra hours and resources on detour flights.
NEWSROOM IN notes that in late March of this year, Slovak police launched an official investigation into Prime Minister Robert Fico. According to iDen.sk, the investigation was prompted by a complaint from Branislav Gröhling, leader of the opposition liberal party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS). The primary grievance involves the government’s decision to stop emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine.
