Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has departed from Baku after a temporary delay, following earlier reports that his flight to Moscow was grounded due to lack of clearance amid ongoing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.
Vučić is traveling to Moscow to attend Victory Day commemorations, but the aircraft carrying him had been held in the Azerbaijani capital due to the absence of necessary overflight permissions. According to Serbian media, several countries initially granted clearance for the flight but later withheld approval citing security concerns linked to the conflict in Ukraine.
Despite the delay, Vučić has now resumed his journey to Moscow, Serbian state outlets reported.
Victory Day, observed annually on May 9, marks Russia’s celebration of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two. The Kremlin has announced that Vučić is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit.
Vučić’s visit has drawn criticism from some opposition figures and analysts, who say the trip signals a distancing from the European Union.
