Sofia, Sept. 5 -- Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov has dismissed speculation that Russia interfered with the GPS signal of a plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, saying there was "no evidence" of "prolonged interference or jamming" near Plovdiv airport during her landing.

According to a Euro News report, Zhelyazkov told parliament on Thursday that von der Leyen's aircraft had not encountered sustained jamming. He later clarified that while "ground instruments" had not detected any disruptions, the possibility of "onboard devices" registering interference could not be ruled out.

The debate comes after the European Commission suggested earlier this week that Bulgarian authorities believed the disrupt...