Poland opens airspace to Russian jet

Poland has permitted the Russian defense minister’s plane to fly over its territory after initially barring its airspace to the jet and forcing it to land in Slovakia’s capital Bratislava.

The Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA) announced on Friday that Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu’s plane was initially refused entry because its status was changed from civil to military for unknown reasons.

Regulations state that a military flyover is only possible if related aviation authorities are informed 72 hours in advance of the flight.

According to a Polish armed forces spokesman, Lt Col Piotr Walatek, permission was given to the jet after it changed its status back to a civilian flight.

“The plane was permitted to fly from Bratislava to Moscow via the airspace of Poland. The flyover permission was received for the whole route from Bratislava to Moscow,” one of the aircraft’s pilots told reporters.

The Interfax news agency quotes Russia’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov as saying that Poland’s move was “a crude violation of the norms and ethics of inter-state conduct.”

“In the context of the celebration in Slovakia, [it can be regarded as] a blasphemous move against the historical memory and services of those who saved Europe from fascism,” he added.

The defense minister was in Slovakia to attending an event commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising against Nazi Germany.

Poland has been a strong supporter of anti-Russia sanctions over Moscow’s alleged support for the pro-Russian forces fighting in eastern Ukraine. Russia denies such allegations.

Ukraine’s eastern regions have witnessed deadly clashes between pro-Russia protesters and the Ukrainian army since Kiev launched military operations there in mid-April.

SRK/MHB