Bulgaria said Tuesday it denied a request last week from a number of Russian aircraft to cross into its airspace on their way to Syria, AFP reported.
The statement comes as concern about Russian involvement in the Syrian conflict grows, amid reports Russia has sent more military support to the Syrian regime.
"The planes were said to carry humanitarian aid but we had information — that we had every reason to trust — that the declared cargo was not the real one," foreign ministry spokeswoman Betina Zhoteva told AFP.
A Russian official said the US was a major influence in the refusal by Bulgaria, a NATO member. The US on Monday asked Greece not to allow Russian supply flights to enter its airspace, according to AFP.
"The fact that the Bulgarians are the first to respond (to the request from Washington) — they will have that on their conscience," said Vladimir Djabarov, vice-president of the Russian foreign affairs council.
