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<\/a><\/center><\/p>\nStars & Stripes<\/a> reports that a Russian Air Force Tupolev Tu-154 surveillance aircraft flew over the nation’s capitol yesterday;<\/p>\n The Russian Air Force Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft made the flight through the Treaty on Open Skies, which Russia, the United States and 32 other nations have signed. The treaty established criteria under which countries can make unarmed observation flights over the soil of other treaty members in an effort to promote transparency and international arms control efforts, according to the State Department.<\/p>\n The Capitol Police issued an alert Wednesday that warned that an “authorized low-altitude aircraft” would enter restricted airspace between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The alert did not state who owned the plane, but said it “will be large and may fly directly over the U.S. Capitol.”<\/p>\n “This flight will be monitored by U.S. Capitol Police and other federal government agencies,” the alert concluded.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n According to the State Department<\/a>;<\/p>\n The Treaty on Open Skies establishes a regime of unarmed aerial observation flights over the territories of its signatories. The Treaty is designed to enhance mutual understanding and confidence by giving all participants, regardless of size, a direct role in gathering information through aerial imaging on military forces and activities of concern to them. Open Skies is one of the most wide-ranging international arms control efforts to date to promote openness and transparency in military forces and activities.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n According to Wiki<\/a>, the treaty was signed by GHW Bush in 1989 and took effect in 2002. Wiki also says that the Russians have been restricting overflights of their own country since last year.<\/p>\n