Originally Posted by
Just This Once...
To aid genuine followers of the forum - no such blanket right exists and flight in international airspace is not a random uncontrolled free-for-all. The poster above is a provocateur with no connection to military aviation and as such, he will say things that are not true for his own reasons.
The rules and procedures for international airspace have, unsurprisingly, rules and procedures in order to ensure safety for all users. The repeated concern with Russian activities is that they do not follow the international rules and procedures for the safe transit of international airspace; so triggering a QRA response and even rerouting of civilian traffic.
The Russian activities are designed to be an irritant by deliberately operating in an unsafe manner, against the international treaties that it is a signatory of.
A 'blanket right' pretty much does exist for State (military, police, coastguard) aircraft to operate largely as they see fit outwith territorial limits. Aircraft falling within this category are under no obligation to obey ICAO SARPS. They are required to operate with 'due regard' for the safety of civilian traffic but (I believe) the operating state can decide how they meet this criteria.