Bulgaria may veto EU sanctions against Russia due to Patriarch… (санкция · болгария · патриарх)
Bulgaria may veto EU sanctions against Russia due to Patriarch Kirill. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev told journalists upon arriving at the EU summit that Bulgaria would not support anti-Russian sanctions that could harm it.
Consensus
- Bulgaria vetoed the 21st EU sanctions package against Russia
- The sanctions package included measures against Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and energy sector figures like Vagit Alekperov
- Bulgaria's position was based on economic concerns and opposition to sanctions that could harm its economy
- Bulgaria opposed the inclusion of Patriarch Kirill in the sanctions
- The EU had previously considered similar sanctions against Patriarch Kirill in 2022
Points of divergence
- Bulgaria's opposition was specifically due to the economic impact on its own energy sector and the potential harm to the Lukoil company — vedomosti
- Bulgaria was prepared to veto the sanctions and exclude Patriarch Kirill from the list of sanctioned individuals — riamo
- Bulgaria's stance was based on religious solidarity with the Russian Orthodox Church and the shared Eastern Orthodox faith — vm
- Bulgaria had previously opposed sanctions against Rosatom, citing similar economic concerns — kommersant
Coverage (5 sources)
- Bulgaria Vetoed the 21st Package of EU Sanctions Against Russia — Ведомости
- Bulgaria Threatens to Veto EU Anti-Russian Sanctions — РИАМО
- Bulgaria may veto EU sanctions against Russia over Patriarch Kirill — Вечерняя Москва
- Bulgaria promised not to allow sanctions against Russia at the expense of its own economy — Коммерсантъ
- Bulgaria opposes part of the EU's 21st anti-Russian sanctions package — Ведомости