EU may impose sanctions against ROC Patriarch Kirill – media
Kyiv • UNN
Diplomats confirmed the inclusion of the head of the ROC in the 21st EU sanctions package. Hungary is ready to lift its veto on restrictions against Kirill.
Today, the consideration of the draft of a new package of European anti-Russian sanctions began. Officially, the list of individuals planned to be restricted has not been published, but three diplomats confirmed to Euronews that the Patriarch of the ROC, Kirill, is on this list, UNN reports.
The Russian Patriarch is accused in the EU of spreading revisionist propaganda intended to justify the war in Ukraine.
Under his leadership, the Russian Orthodox Church approved a document calling for the destruction of Ukrainian independence and describing the invasion as a "Holy War."
Addendum
According to media reports, the EU first attempted to include Kirill on the blacklist in 2022. However, Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, blocked the move, calling it a matter of religious freedom.
However, the recently elected new Prime Minister Péter Magyar has declared his readiness to lift his predecessor's most controversial veto and, moreover, to support sanctions against Kirill.
However, due to Kirill's special status as the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, it is not yet clear whether all 27 EU countries will support this move: unanimous approval is required to include an individual on the sanctions list.
Brussels expects to agree on the 21st sanctions package by July 15 to avoid an automatic review of the price cap on Russian oil.