EU may prohibit Russian airlines with flights over its territory

The European Union is ready to prohibit the aircraft of Russian airlines flights over Europe if Russia limits the flights of European airlines over Siberia. According to Deutsche Welle, this was stated by the official representative of the European Commission in Germany, Richard Kunel.

According to him, the European Union is ready to "tighten the nuts" and act on the principle of "eye". “We have no other choice,” said Kunel.

He added that the air corridors are established by international agreements that Russia is obliged to observe, as well as the Rules of the WTO. This means that Künel continued that Russia cannot unilaterally take any measures, without violating international law.

If the Russian Federation goes to such a step, the EU will be able to turn to the relevant international courts. But there is another option. According to the official representative of the European Commission in Germany, "international law also provides for the use of the so -called" retaliation "tool - the adoption of equivalent response measures."

Earlier, Vedomosti, citing informed sources, reported that the Russian government considers the opportunity to limit or completely ban the transit flights of European airlines from Europe to Asia through the territory of Russia.

According to the source, "close to the participants in the discussion," such an offer appeared shortly after the first sanctions against Russia introduced the European Union. But the suspension of the Vobralet Lawkoster flight and Ukraine on Russian airlines a fine of $ 8.6 million for flights to Crimea require an answer, he noted.

Currently, consultations are held on this issue at the Ministry of Transport and the Foreign Ministry, another source noted. The final decision will be made by the government. "Any unfriendly measures of the EU, including in the field of air transportation, will be studied and will not remain unanswered," the source close to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.