Church and Politics Collide as Bulgaria's PM Rejects Sanctions on Russian Patriarch Kirill

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. ...