Camilla Jessen
Lithuania and Latvia have reportedly denied Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić’s flight access to their airspace.
Lithuanian and Latvian authorities have reportedly refused airspace access to a flight carrying Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić as he travels to Moscow to attend Russia’s Victory Day parade on May 9.
According to the Serbian daily Novosti, Latvia denied the flight on May 6, citing the “political sensitivity of the purpose of the flight.”
Lithuania referred to “technical and diplomatic sensitivity” in its own decision to block access.
No official confirmation or public comment has yet been made by the governments of either country.
A Visit That’s Stirring Tensions
President Vučić has confirmed he still plans to attend the parade, despite strong pressure from the European Union, which asked leaders of EU candidate countries like Serbia not to support Russia during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The Victory Day parade in Moscow is a major national event in Russia and is closely tied to President Vladimir Putin and the country’s military image.
Vučić’s decision to go is seen by many in Europe as a show of support for Russia, which has become increasingly isolated in the West.
This isn’t the first time a leader has faced flight issues when heading toward Moscow.
The same Novosti report mentioned that Poland and Lithuania recently refused airspace to Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, also due to concerns over political signals.