Nikolai Denkov, chair of the parliamentary group of “We Continue the Change” (PP), warned that Bulgaria risks political and economic isolation from its European partners due to the current government stance on EU sanctions related to Russian Patriarch Kirill. Speaking to journalists in parliament, he argued that the position taken by Prime Minister Rumen Radev could lead to serious consequences for the country’s international standing and financial stability.
According to Denkov, the defense of the Russian Orthodox Patriarch in the context of EU sanctions represents a shift away from Bulgaria’s national interest toward external influence. He insisted that such a course would ultimately harm the country itself.
“Radev has already publicly gone the way of Orban before the whole world and we will all pay the price,” Denkov stated.
He further argued that the figure in question is not only a religious leader but also associated with Russia’s security structures and with support for the war in Ukraine. In his words, this involvement places the issue beyond religious considerations and into the sphere of geopolitics and broader European security concerns.
“The person he is defending, in addition to his spiritual rank, is also known for being a former colonel in the Russian secret services. This person does not just support the war, but encourages it against fraternal Orthodox Ukraine. This war is against humanity, Christian principles and against the interests of all who suffer from it,” he said, as quoted by BTA.
