Czechia issues permit for Slovak PM’s aircraft to fly to Russia

Ivanna Kostina, Roman Petrenko - 2 May, 12:56

Robert Fico. Photo: Getty Images

The Czech Foreign Ministry has said Prague has issued a permit for Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's aircraft to fly through Czech airspace during his trip to Moscow ahead of 9 May.

Source: Novinky, a Czech online news website; European Pravda

Details: Moskovsky Komsomolets, a Russian newspaper aligned with the Kremlin's agenda, claimed that Czechia had banned Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico from using Czech airspace on his way to Moscow, where he is due to travel to mark the end of the Second World War in Europe. However, the Czech Foreign Ministry said it had issued the overflight permit without delay and that the Moskovsky Komsomolets' claim is false.

Quote from Moskovsky Komsomolets: "Some European countries have already banned Fico's aircraft from using their airspace for the flight to Russia, including Czechia and Poland."

More details: Czech Foreign Ministry spokesman Adam Čörgő denied the report.

Quote from Čörgő: "The Slovak side submitted a standard request for an overflight permit and it was issued without delay. Claims of a 'ban' are false."

More details: Čörgő said Czechia did not join the countries that banned Fico from flying over their territory. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have taken such a decision.

Background:

Earlier, media outlets citing Fico's statement reported that the Slovak prime minister had decided not to take part in the military parade in Moscow on 9 May but had not cancelled his trip to Russia.
In 2025, Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić were the only guests from Europe at the level of heads of state to attend the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow hosted by Putin.

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