Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev has confirmed that the country will block new sanctions against Russia, linking the decision to objections over proposals that would include Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in the restrictive measures.
He argued that the war in Ukraine has expanded far beyond the battlefield and should not be extended into religious matters.
"Let's not mix politics with religion. Today in Sofia, I said that the time for crusades is over. This war has already gone beyond the trenches. It has spread to the economy, energy, we see that it affects culture and sports, and now it remains to cover religion. Yes, we will veto," Radev said.
The prime minister stressed that the issue is not the individual figure of Patriarch Kirill, but the broader relationship with the Russian Orthodox Church and its followers.
