Bulgaria threatens veto over EU sanctions targeting Patriarch Kirill

Bulgaria has said it is prepared to use its veto power to block the inclusion of Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, in the European Union’s latest sanctions package. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev, speaking on the sidelines of an EU summit, said Sofia would not support sanctions that could harm the country’s interests.

In comments reported by Nova.bg, Radev said: “What concerns me is not what the Patriarch has done, but the entire Russian community that belongs to the same Eastern Orthodox Church as we do. We are one family. When sanctions of this kind are being discussed, the views of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church must also be taken into account.”

He added that Bulgaria was prepared to veto the draft decision.

The Bulgarian prime minister also said the government opposed sanctions that threatened the country’s economy. As examples, Radev cited potential risks to the operations of Lukoil, the supply of spare parts for the Sofia metro system and fertiliser imports.

“We will discuss this later, but if a serious risk emerges to the operation of Lukoil Neftohim Burgas, we will also demand that the facility be removed from the sanctions list,” Radev said.

Continuing his criticism of the proposed measures, he added: “What message are we sending by extending sanctions and waging a war against religion? Do we understand where this could lead? I have said it before: the era of the Crusades is over.”

Opposition to symbolic measures with limited economic impact

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova also said Sofia opposed sanctions that carried no meaningful economic impact and could ultimately prove counterproductive.

Arguing that sanctions should function primarily as an instrument of economic pressure, Petrova-Chamova said restrictions targeting the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church were largely symbolic in nature. She added that freezing the patriarch’s assets could trigger accusations that Europe was interfering in church affairs.

Earlier, Politico reported, citing diplomatic sources, that Bulgaria had blocked part of the new sanctions package, although no details were provided.

Euronews subsequently reported that the proposed measures included restrictions targeting Patriarch Kirill. A similar sanctions proposal failed in 2022 after being vetoed by Hungary.

According to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, the bloc’s 21st sanctions package envisages restrictions against 170 individuals and entities.

Politico reported that the new measures could target Russian banks, the so-called shadow fleet and organisations linked to the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Russian government maintains that Western sanctions are illegitimate and ineffective. Vladimir Legoyda, head of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Synodal Department for Relations with Society and the Media, described the possible inclusion of Patriarch Kirill on the sanctions list as a meaningless step.