Bulgarian PM wants Patriarch Kirill and Lukoil excluded from 21st Russia sanctions package

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev has said that some of the sanctions against Russia in the 21st package are unacceptable, claiming they pose a threat to Bulgaria's economy.

Source: Radev on the sidelines of the European Council meeting on 18 June, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Bulgaria reportedly wants Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill removed from the draft 21st EU package of sanctions against Russia and considers some of the proposed sanctions, particularly energy-related ones, harmful to its economy.

Quote: "We have already stated our position that we will not allow sanctions that cause damage and pose a risk to the Bulgarian economy. I can point to the risk to the functioning of Lukoil; I can point to the risk to the supply of spare parts for the capital's metro system, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' concerns regarding the delivery of [certain] goods for Bulgaria and for the EU as a whole."

More details: Radev stressed that all these issues must be considered at meetings of the Council of the EU.

Regarding Patriarch Kirill, whom the European Commission proposes to add to the EU sanctions list as part of the 21st package, the Bulgarian prime minister said Bulgaria will insist on his removal.

"I am not interested in Patriarch Kirill as such. I am interested in the Russian Orthodox Church, since the Russian Orthodox Church contributed to our liberation from five hundred years of Ottoman slavery. I am interested in the whole of Russian society, which has this church, which is Eastern Orthodox, just like ours. We are one family," Rumen Radev said.

"Bulgaria will ask for Patriarch Kirill to be excluded from the sanctions package," he added.

Background:

• At the beginning of June, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the EU's 21st package of sanctions against Russia.
• The package proposes including a ban on EU entry for former Russian combatants who fought in the war against Ukraine.
• Bulgaria has not supported the package because of plans to include Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill on the sanctions list.
• According to European Pravda, the EU's 21st sanctions package against Russia is intended to be approved by 15 July – the deadline for reviewing the price cap on Russian oil.

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