EU considers imposing sanctions against Patriarch Kirill

As part of the preparation of a new package of restrictive measures, the European Union is discussing the inclusion of high-ranking representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, including Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, in the sanctions lists. The discussion is at an early stage, and the adoption of measures is expected by early July. This is reported by Politico.

The reason for the possible introduction of restrictions was the position of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church on the issue of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. To date, Patriarch Kirill has already been included in the national sanctions lists of the UK, Canada and the Czech Republic and Ukraine, while Estonia and Lithuania have banned him from entering their territories.

The new package of sanctions, in addition to members of the clergy, will target the operation of a “shadow fleet” of Russian tankers, the financial sector and military-industrial companies. Special attention is being paid to firms involved in the sale of seized Ukrainian grain. According to sources, European diplomats also expect to promote initiatives that were previously blocked by representatives of Hungary.

We shall remind you that on November 22, 2024 Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree, according to which enacted the decision of the National Security and Defence Council on deprivation of state awards “traitors of Ukraine”, first of all, 34 people will be deprived of distinctions. The “traitors of Ukraine” also included the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.