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Russia minister plane 'barred from Poland airspace' Poland bars Russian minister's jet from airspace
(35 minutes later)
A plane carrying the Russian defence minister was refused entry into Polish and Ukrainian airspace and forced to turn back to Slovakia, reports say. Poland has refused to let a plane carrying Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu fly through its airspace.
Sergei Shoigu was attempting to fly back to Russia after attending a ceremony in Slovakia. The plane turned back to the Slovakian capital, Bratislava. Mr Shoigu had been on an official visit to Slovakia.
The EU has imposed a travel ban on several Russian officials as part of the sanctions over Russia's involvement in Ukraine's ongoing crisis. Poland said entry was barred because the plane had changed its status from a civilian to a military flight, which required 72 hours' clearance.
However, Mr Shoigu is not one of the officially sanctioned officials. A senior Russian official was quoted as saying the move was a "violation of inter-state conduct".
Mr Shoigu's plane landed in the Slovakian capital, Bratislava, after Poland and Ukraine refused to allow the flight enter their airspace, Reuters and Russia's RIA news agency reported. The EU has imposed a travel ban on many Russian officials as part of the sanctions over Russia's involvement in Ukraine. However, Mr Shoigu is not one of the blacklisted officials.
A spokesman for Poland's air navigation agency said: "It is too early to comment, we are checking all the circumstances that led to this occurrence." Ukraine had also refused to allow the flight to enter its airspace, Reuters and Russia's RIA news agency reported.
'Crude violation'
A Polish armed forces spokesman, Lt Col Piotr Walatek, said military flights needed advance clearance.
The flight had had civilian status when it left Moscow on Friday, he added.
A spokesman for Poland's state air navigation services agency said the plane would be permitted to enter Polish airspace after it reverted its flight plan to a civilian one,
However, Russia's First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov described the move as "a crude violation of the norms and ethics of inter-state conduct", Interfax news agency reported.
Mr Shoigu was in Slovakia attending an event commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising against Nazi Germany, Russian media reported.Mr Shoigu was in Slovakia attending an event commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising against Nazi Germany, Russian media reported.
Poland has been a strong proponent of sanctions against Russia for its role in the Ukraine crisis. Poland has been a strong advocate of sanctions against Russia over Moscow's support for the pro-Russian separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine.