Belarus: Russia blocks some flights for avoiding its ally

But remember, republicans love Vlad.

PO1 Tony Holland
"A number of European airlines have stopped flying to or over Belarus, a move which directly affects the country's revenue, because airlines pay to use a country's airspace, amounting to millions of dollars per year.

In response, Russia rejected the flight plans of the Air France and Austrian Airlines planes, which showed them circumnavigating Belarus.

At least four Air France flights between Paris and Moscow have been cancelled. Some passengers were rebooked on Russian carrier Aeroflot.

Two Austrian Airlines flights have been grounded - one passenger plane travelling from Vienna to Moscow, and a cargo plane travelling from Nanjing in China to Vienna.

Austria's foreign ministry said Russia's actions were "absolutely incomprehensible".

The French ministry of transport told AFP news agency that "the principle of reciprocity... must be respected".

Not a good time to tour that part of the world