EU Removes Two High-Profile Russians from Sanctions List After Bulgaria Objects
The European Union will not impose sanctions on Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church and the head of Russia's largest private oil company, following a veto by Bulgaria. This decision comes as EU member states prepare to adopt a new sanctions package against Russia. The exclusion of these two prominent figures highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining unity within the bloc on matters of Russian sanctions.
Background of the Proposed Sanctions
According to the draft sanctions proposal obtained by RFE/RL, Patriarch Kirill - a staunch supporter of President Vladimir Putin and a public advocate for the war in Ukraine - was expected to be included in the latest round of financial sanctions that the 27-nation bloc is considering. The proposal emphasized that Kirill "continuously justifies and supports Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine," describing it as "holy."
However, according to EU officials with direct knowledge of the negotiations, the latest draft - expected to be finalized in the coming days - has removed Kirill from the list of 42 individuals. Another Russian figure has also been removed from the final draft: Vagit Alekperov, head of Lukoil, Russia's largest private oil company.
Bulgaria's Role in Blocking the Proposal
Brussels has long sought to sanction Kirill as part of the sanctions against Russia that the bloc began imposing several weeks after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, this effort had been consistently blocked by the Hungarian government under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, with the argument that the EU should not target religious figures.
Orban and his party were defeated in elections this year, removing a significant obstacle to EU policy on Russia. However, according to anonymous EU officials authorized to speak on the matter, Bulgaria has now expressed similar concerns to those previously raised by Orban.
Similar to Orban, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who took office after elections in May, is considered to be Russia-friendly. Representatives of Radev could not be immediately reached for comment.
Summary Status of Key Figures
| Name | Position | Sanction Status | Reason for Exclusion (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patriarch Kirill | Head of the Russian Orthodox Church | Removed from list | Bulgarian opposition |
| Vagit Alekperov | Chairman of Lukoil | Removed from list | Lukoil's significant market presence in Bulgaria |
| Arkady Dvorkovich | Former Deputy Prime Minister, now President of FIDE | Remains on list | Not specified |
| Mikhail Degtyarev | Russian Sports Minister | Remains on list | Not specified |
Other Changes to the Sanctions Package
In addition to the removal of the two figures above, several other key proposals in the final sanctions package have been softened, including:
- Restrictions on Russian cable imports - some countries like Germany, Poland, and Portugal still want to use them for food processing
- Automatic entry ban for all former Russian soldiers applying for visas to the bloc has been removed
- The price cap on Russian crude oil has been frozen at $44 per barrel for only three months, not six months as originally proposed
Summary of Softened Sanction Proposals
| Sanction Proposal | Current Status | Opposing/Proposing Country |
|---|---|---|
| Russian cable restrictions | Softened | Germany, Poland, Portugal |
| Entry ban for former Russian soldiers | Removed | Not specified |
| Russian crude oil price cap | Reduced from 6 to 3 months | Not specified |
| Russian LNG transportation | Exemption being considered | Greece |
| Regarding Raiffeisen Bank | Removal being considered | Austria |
Next Steps in the Process
The news about Kirill's removal from the final draft sanctions proposal was first reported by Ukrainskaya Pravda. The exclusion of Alekperov from the list was also partly driven by Lukoil's significant market presence in Bulgaria, EU officials told RFE/RL.
EU foreign ministers will discuss the EU sanctions package when they meet in Brussels on July 13, with the aim of providing guidance for EU ambassadors to reach consensus on the package by the end of the week.
The exclusion of these two prominent Russian figures from the final sanctions list demonstrates the continuing difficulties in maintaining EU unity on Russia sanctions, particularly as some member states still hold more moderate views on such measures.
This represents a significant setback for advocates of stronger sanctions, who argue that influential figures like Kirill and key economic leaders like Alekperov should be held accountable for their roles in the war and support of the Russian government.