Bulgaria Opposes EU Sanctions on Patriarch Kirill

The European Union is once again facing an uphill battle to impose sanctions on Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. After Hungary lifted its long-standing veto, Bulgaria has emerged as the new obstacle in a decision that requires unanimity, Euronews reported.

“What message are we sending when we extend sanctions and war into the sphere of religion? Do we realize where this leads?”, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev asked reporters.

“The era of the Crusades is over. I am not interested in the Russian Patriarch as an individual. I am interested in the fact that he is the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, which is Eastern Orthodox, just like our church. I am concerned about the millions of people who belong to that church”, he added.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova also opposed sanctioning Kirill. The proposed restrictions would impose a travel ban and freeze assets held in the EU.

The sanctions “have no economic effect but rather have the potential to be counterproductive, because they create an environment in which anti-European propaganda can be carried out, specifically along the lines that Europe is interfering in church affairs. Therefore, we do not consider this to be productive”, she said.

Kirill has been accused of spreading revisionist propaganda to justify the war in Ukraine. Under his leadership, the Russian Orthodox Church approved a document that called for the annihilation of Ukrainian independence and described the invasion as a “Holy War”.

The EU first attempted to blacklist Kirill in 2022, but the move was blocked by Hungary under then-Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The new Hungarian government led by Peter Magyar indicated last month that it was prepared to support the sanctions.

(Max)