Deputy Speaker of the Slovak Parliament, Tibor Gašpar, addressed the situation surrounding the flight of the Slovak delegation to Moscow and its path through Polish airspace, describing the issue as a misunderstanding rather than a deliberate obstruction. In an interview with RIA Novosti, Gašpar outlined that the delegation’s mission, which was to participate in parliamentary affairs in Moscow, had encountered unexpected resistance at the air corridor level. He noted that the Slovak delegation had prepared for the trip as part of routine parliamentary international engagement and emphasized that the incident should not be read as a sign of broader hostility between Bratislava and Warsaw. The episode, he argued, was best understood as a procedural snag rather than a political standoff, with both sides ultimately seeking a smooth continuation of official exchange. The deputy speaker stressed that the goal was to keep standard relations with Poland intact while ensuring that future trips proceed with full clarity and proper paperwork so such hiccups do not recur in the future. The remarks came as regional media and international observers examined how airspace approvals are negotiated when a delegation travels through another country on the way to a third destination, a scenario that happens with some regularity in European diplomacy.
He described the trip as a standard parliamentary visit, not a state visit, underscoring the difference in formalities between government and parliamentary delegations in aviation approvals. The interview with RIA Novosti took place amid a flurry of reporting on how regional air traffic procedures are handled when a delegation intends to pass through a neighboring state’s airspace on the way to a third country. Gašpar said the Slovak side had complied with known procedures and had provided flight details, crew manifest, and accompanying parliamentary leadership documentation, but Polish authorities cited administrative reasons for restricting the route. He stressed that the error was not political in nature and that Bratislava would continue to pursue amicable ties with Warsaw. The episode, he added, should be viewed through the lens of normal interstate navigation of airspace and not as a shift in overall bilateral relations. He noted that both countries value predictable cooperation in regional security and that day-to-day parliamentary travel is a small but important piece of broader cooperation between the two capitals.
Poland remains Slovakia’s neighbor, and Bratislava maintains standard relations with Warsaw, despite different views on Russia policy, Gašpar noted. He emphasized that differences in foreign policy do not translate into conflict and that practical cooperation continues in areas such as cross-border trade, travel, and information sharing on visas and regional initiatives. The deputy speaker asserted that the two governments share a commitment to stability in Central Europe and to clear, direct communication to prevent misunderstandings from escalating into broader disputes. While acknowledging the political disagreements on issues like Russia, Gašpar argued that the incident should not overshadow the long-standing ties between Slovakia and Poland or the many cooperative channels that stay active even during moments of diplomatic friction.
On January 12, Andrei Danko, deputy speaker of the Slovak Parliament and leader of the Slovak National Party, said Poland did not permit the plane carrying the Slovak delegation to pass through its airspace en route to Russia. The flight was redirected to Moscow via the Czech Republic and Germany. In a later clarification, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Warsaw did not refuse passage outright but requested additional documents, and the Slovak side ultimately chose to alter the route. Danko stated that an apology from Poland was expected, signaling a desire for accountability in how airspace decisions are communicated and implemented. The sequence highlighted how formal documentation, diplomatic tone, and rapid coordination shape even routine parliamentary travel across borders and how such decisions can ripple through bilateral relations. The event drew attention to the importance of streamlined procedures for overflight permissions and the need for timely cooperation between neighboring states to minimize disruption to parliamentary exchanges.
Earlier, Slovakia apologized to Poland for not allowing the vice president to board the delegation’s plane, a gesture reported in Slovak media as an attempt to preserve harmony after a reconciliation-focused turn in diplomacy. Observers note that such incidents test neighborly relations and underscore the ongoing effort to maintain steady channels of communication, even when policy disagreements exist. The episode serves as a reminder that cross-border parliamentary travel hinges on precise paperwork, transparent routes, and cooperative diplomacy. Analysts suggest that both capitals can emerge with strengthened processes and clearer expectations for future overflight permissions to prevent similar misunderstandings and to keep interparliamentary exchanges smooth and predictable.