Russia denies Turkey airspace violation claims

The Russian Defense Ministry has denied any manner of Turkish airspace violation by its jets.

"The statements of the Turkish side about the alleged fact of Russian Su-34 jet's violation of (its) airspace are pure propaganda," said Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov on Saturday.

He stressed that “There were no violations of Turkish airspace by aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic.”

The Turkish Defense Ministry had claimed that a Russian Su-34 bomber violated the country's air space on Friday, adding that the plane was warned by radar units.

"None of these radars are able to establish the type and affiliation of an aircraft — whether it belongs to Russia or to the so-called US-led anti-ISIL [Daesh] coalition," Konashenkov added.

He also said claims that the Russia pilots had received warnings were fictional and made up by “ignorant propagandists who watched too many Hollywood action movies.”

The spokesman also said that neither Russian air defenses in Syria nor Syrian radar stations had registered any violations along the Syria-Turkey border.

Following the claims, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Russia over “consequences” if airspace violations continue.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which includes Turkey, also called on Russia “fully respect” alliance airspace.

The incident follows Turkey’s downing of a Russian Su-24 fighter jet over Syria on November 25, 2015. Ankara claims the jet was over Turkish airspace, a claim which Moscow strongly denies. 

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