Bulgaria will not support sanctions European Union against the patriarch of Russia CyrilNeither the ‘measures directly affecting’ the oil company Lukoil and its subsidiaries, said the Foreign Minister today Velislava Petrova.
"Bulgaria's position is clear. We support sanctions that have economic consequences, which do not punish the Member States (the EU) more than the warring countries and which are not symbolic," Petrova explained to reporters in parliament.
According to the minister, if sanctions are imposed on the patriarch, a "favorable environment for anti-European propaganda" will be created, on the grounds that Europe is involved in the affairs of the Church.
"The freezing of the assets of the Russian patriarch in some banks will not prevent his activities, whatever they may be", he continued, judging that this measure is rather 'symbolic' than necessary.
The name of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, who supports the war in Ukraine, is often referred to as a possible target of sanctions. In June 2022 Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban prevented his inclusion in the EU's "black list".
"Our main priority is to safeguard the country's energy stability," Petrova also said, appreciating that this is a position shared by other countries that "express reservations about measures that could harm their energy security".
The EU announced on Monday sanctions against 81 people and entities working with Russia in the war against Ukraine. At the same time, talks continue on another package of sanctions, the 21st since the invasion of Ukraine, in February 2022.