Yesterday, Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova said that Bulgaria would not support European Union sanctions targeting Moscow Patriarch Kirill or “measures that would directly affect” the oil company Lukoil and its subsidiaries.
“Bulgaria’s position is clear. We support sanctions that have economic consequences, that do not punish EU member states more severely than countries at war and that are not merely symbolic,” she explained to journalists in parliament.
According to the minister, imposing sanctions on the Patriarch would create a favourable environment for anti-European propaganda based on the argument that Europe is interfering in church affairs.
‘Freezing the Russian Patriarch’s assets in certain banks would not prevent his activities, whatever they may be,’ she continued, deeming such a measure to be more ‘symbolic’ than necessary.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, who supports the war in Ukraine, is frequently mentioned as a potential sanctions target. In June 2022, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blocked his inclusion on the EU ‘blacklist’.
‘Our key priority is to safeguard the country’s energy stability,’ said Petrova, adding that this position is shared by other countries that ‘express reservations about measures that could harm their energy security’.
On Monday, the EU announced sanctions against 81 individuals and entities cooperating with Russia in the war against Ukraine. At the same time, discussions are ongoing over another package of sanctions — the 21st since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
