Bulgaria Blocks Airspace for Russian Planes as Putin Boosts Involvement in Syrian War

[Valin]

Washington Free Beacon:

Kremlin reportedly planning to send more troops to support Bashar al-Assad

Daniel Wiser

September 8, 2015

 

Bulgaria has blocked Russian planes from flying in its airspace amid mounting concerns about an escalation in Russian support for Syria’s government, according to reports.

 

A spokeswoman for Bulgaria’s foreign ministry told Reuters that officials in the country were concerned about the contents of the Russian military transport planes, which were headed to Syria. Russia is one of the chief allies of Bashar al-Assad’s embattled government in Damascus. “We have enough information that makes us have serious doubts about the cargo of the planes, which is the reason for the refusal,” the Bulgarian spokeswoman said.

 

(Snip)

 

Top Russian lawmakers reacted angrily to the move by Bulgaria to deny access to its airspace. Nikolay Levichev, vice-speaker in the Russian State Duma, said Bulgaria had “joined the camp of adversaries” after the “unfriendly move,” according to TASS, a Russian state news agency.

 

He also claimed that the Russian planes were transporting humanitarian supplies. “Closing access to its airspace to planes with relief cargoes for the war-torn Syria is an inhumane and clearly short-sighted act,” he said.

 

(Snip)

[clearvision]

And what happens if they do fly across their airspace? A sternly worded email?

[Valin]

And what happens if they do fly across their airspace? A sternly worded email?

 

 

Good question. This is strange, Bulgaria is normally a close ally of Russia.