Bulgaria to veto EU sanctions against the Russian Orthodox Church
Bulgaria has announced that it is prepared to veto new European sanctions against Russia if the Russian Patriarch Kirill is included in the list of restrictive measures. This decision was announced by President Rumen Radev, who emphasized the country's position during international discussions.
According to the Bulgarian government, including religious leaders in sanctions lists is a step that could lead to serious divisions. Authorities in Sofia believe that such actions do not contribute to resolving the conflict, but rather complicate the dialogue between different religious communities in Europe.
The European Union is discussing new packages of sanctions against Russia due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. These discussions often propose measures against representatives of Russian state institutions and public figures who support the military actions. Bulgaria, however, insists on an exception when it comes to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.
This position of Bulgaria is part of a broader debate within the EU regarding the effectiveness of sanctions and the need for consensus among all member states. Each country in the union has the right to express its disagreement, which can halt the adoption of common decisions requiring full unanimity.
At the moment, the situation remains the subject of diplomatic negotiations in Brussels. It is expected that in the coming weeks it will become clear whether the EU will comply with the Bulgarian request or whether a new compromise will be sought regarding the sanctioning of Russian officials.