Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rumen Radev has drawn political attention after comparing the roles of the Bulgarian Patriarch and Russia’s Patriarch Kirill, in remarks that sparked a broader debate about religion, sanctions, and foreign policy.
The comments were made following earlier statements from Radev, who eight years ago described Kirill’s visit to Bulgaria as a moment when he “arrived as a clergyman and left as a politician.” When asked why he now opposed sanctions on the Russian Patriarch, Radev insisted that his position had not changed.
“Nothing has changed, if you have listened carefully to my statements. I am not interested in the personality of Patriarch Kirill. I am interested in all Orthodox Christians and respect for their religion,” he said.
He further argued that his approach is consistent when discussing religious figures, pointing to the Bulgarian Patriarch’s own public appearances. “Here, on this square, our patriarch performs a service and blesses the Bulgarian flags and the Bulgarian army,” Radev added.
The Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil, who met with the Prime Minister, also supported the position against sanctions. He avoided direct criticism of the proposal to sanction Kirill, but said the idea was not appropriate.
