The Russian Foreign Ministry has raised claims that the cancellation of a SAS flight was orchestrated to prevent Glenn Diesen, a controversial Norwegian professor, from attending a United Nations meeting in New York where he was set to speak. Diesen was invited by the Russian delegation to discuss the impact of media coverage on public perceptions of the Ukraine war. The timing of the cancellation has led to accusations from Russia that it was not coincidental, but rather a deliberate move to silence dissenting views.

The meeting at the UN took place on February 20, where Diesen was scheduled to present his insights amidst rising tensions regarding the conflict in Ukraine. Following the flight's cancellation, Anna Jevstigneeva, the Russian deputy ambassador to the UN, made a statement expressing regret over the incident, highlighting its perceived importance in the context of international dialogue about the war in Ukraine. Diesen’s absence sparked discussions regarding the freedom of expression and the potential implications for scholars in politically sensitive areas.

These claims from Russia come amid a backdrop of heightened scrutiny and criticism regarding Western narratives of the Ukraine conflict, and the alleged suppression of opposing viewpoints. While Russia decries the cancellation as an affront to academic freedom, critics argue that the events reflect broader geopolitical tensions and the contentious nature of the discourse surrounding the war, making this incident a notable point of contention in international relations.