Russia to perform observation flights over Estonia and Finland this week

According to Russia’s head of National Centre for Nuclear Risk Reduction, Sergei Ryzhkov, Russia will undertake observation flights over Estonia and Finland under the Open Skies Treaty between July 13 and 18. 

The flights will be performed using an internationally certified Antonov An-30B aircraft.

“Russia will observe all conditions of the international treaty and this will be monitored by Estonian and Finnish specialists on board," said Ryzhkov.

Russia has been making observation flights over Estonia since 2005.

The Treaty on Open Skies is part of security and confidence building measure among member states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The purpose of OSCE is to gather and make available information about military forces and activities. It was signed in Helsinki in 1992 and entered into force in 2002. 

To date 34 OSCE countries including all member states of NATO have acceded to the treaty.

Estonia joined the treaty in 2005, undertaking to receive up to four observation flights annually.