The United Kingdom on Thursday sanctioned Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church since 2009, as part of a new round of measures in response to the invasion of Ukraine, in reprisals described as “absurd” by the Russian Church.
The 75-year-old religious leader "is being sanctioned for his support" of the invasion of Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry said.
Patriarch Kirill put his Church at the service of Vladimir Putin, calling it a “miracle”.
He shares his ambition for a conservative, dominating Russia.
The European Commission had proposed to place it on its blacklist but the EU gave up because of the opposition of Hungary.
The Moscow branch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church declared its “full independence” at the end of May after a council devoted to the war in Ukraine.
Read alsoUkraine: the alliance of Tsar Putin and Patriarch Kirill for their “holy war”
"Attempts to intimidate the Patriarch of the Russian Church or to force him to abandon his views are absurd, senseless, hopeless," reacted in a press release Vladimir Legoida, the spokesperson for the Russian Orthodox Church.
Other persons subject to sanctions
The measures announced by London, which provide for a ban on entering British territory and freezing of assets in the United Kingdom, also target Maria Lvova-Belova, mediator for children's rights at the Kremlin, because of "the adoption and forced transfer of Ukrainian children”.
Leaders of the transport sector and soldiers accused of having "killed, raped and tortured civilians" in Boutcha, near kyiv, are also targeted.
Just Announced: I have sanctioned:
👉 Patriarch Kirill, Head of Russian Orthodox Church & vocal supporter of Putin's war
👉 Enablers & perpetrators of Putin's war who have brought suffering to Ukrainehttps://t.co/NBBxfwqd5t
— Liz Truss (@trussliz) June 16, 2022
"We are targeting the accomplices and perpetrators of Putin's war who are inflicting untold suffering on Ukraine, including the forced transfer and adoption of children," Foreign Minister Liz Truss said in a statement.