The European Union plans to include Patriarch Kirill in a new round of anti-Russian sanctions

The European Union is once again considering adding the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, to its sanctions list as part of preparations for the next package of restrictive measures against Russia.

According to the Orthodoxia.info portal, citing Euronews, the name of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church was included in the draft of the 21st sanctions package presented to EU member states. Earlier, in 2022, the European Commission had already attempted to impose restrictions on the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, but this initiative was blocked by Hungary, which cited concerns regarding the protection of religious freedoms.

The proposed individual sanctions call for the freezing of assets within the European Union and a ban on entry into EU member states. The reason for these measures was the Patriarch’s repeated public statements, which, according to Brussels, justify or support military actions in Ukraine. The document pays particular attention to statements linking the church’s position to support for the actions of the Russian authorities.

Despite the proposal being resubmitted, diplomatic sources emphasize that a final decision has not yet been made. Unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states is required to adopt the sanctions package. Brussels hopes to reach a consensus on the new restrictive measures by July 15.