"Sanctions against Patriarch Kirill are the height of absurdity," - Legoida

Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church Vladimir Legoyda has expressed sharp protest against the European Union’s intentions to include Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia in the next package of anti-Russian sanctions. According to TV Center, the head of the synodal department for relations between the church and society and the media characterized such steps by Western politicians as «the height of absurdity».

According to Legoyda, the Russian Orthodox Church has traditionally played the role of a humanitarian «bridge» in periods of deep international conflicts, maintaining ties between people despite political barriers. He emphasized that attempts to isolate the ROC Primate through restriction are not only pointless, but also «expose those involved in them,» destroying important channels for inter-human dialog.

The official commentary noted that imposing personal sanctions against a religious leader with millions of followers around the world contradicts the fundamental principles of freedom of conscience and religion. The ROC insists that such actions are counterproductive and only increase tension in the global community.

We shall remind you that on November 22, 2024 Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree, according to which he enacted the decision of the National Security and Defence Council on the 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.