Bulgaria has successfully prevented the European Union from imposing sanctions on Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, after a proposal to include the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in the bloc’s latest sanctions package was withdrawn following objections raised during negotiations among member states.
According to Euronews, Sofia vetoed the proposal, citing religious and cultural concerns. As a result, Patriarch Kirill’s name was removed from the draft sanctions package, which remains under discussion and has yet to receive final approval.
Diplomatic sources said the decision was taken during an extraordinary meeting of EU ambassadors convened to secure agreement on the new round of restrictive measures. While member states failed to reach a comprehensive deal on the package as a whole, negotiations reportedly made significant progress.
Patriarch Kirill, a highly controversial figure with both religious and political influence, has been accused of promoting revisionist narratives aimed at justifying Russia’s war in Ukraine. Under his leadership, the Russian Orthodox Church approved a document describing the invasion as a “Holy War” and calling for the elimination of Ukrainian independence.
This is not the first time the European Union has attempted to sanction the Russian Patriarch. In 2022, a similar initiative failed after Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, blocked the proposal, arguing that such measures would infringe upon religious freedom.
The latest development underscores the continuing divisions within the EU over how far sanctions should extend, particularly when they involve prominent religious leaders.
Source: euronews.com
