Bulgaria is opposing proposed European Union sanctions targeting Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill and assets of the oil company Lukoil and its subsidiaries. Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova announced the country’s position on Wednesday in Sofia, citing concerns that such sanctions could backfire. Bulgaria fears the sanctions would be counterproductive, potentially fueling anti-European propaganda within the country. The Bulgarian government believes targeting religious figures is inappropriate and could alienate its own Orthodox Christian population. Additionally, Sofia worries that sanctions on Lukoil, which has significant operations in Bulgaria, would negatively impact the nation’s energy security and economy. This stance marks a divergence from the EU’s broader efforts to increase pressure on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.