Russian Orthodox Church views idea to impose sanctions on Patriarch Kirill as rejection of common sense

Moscow, April 24, Interfax - The Russian Orthodox Church has viewed as nonsense the news reports that Vilnius proposed that Brussels impose sanctions on Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill due to the events in Ukraine.

"The imposition of sanctions on religious leaders is nonsense, the rejection of common sense," head of the Synodal Department for Church, Society and Media Relations Vladimir Legoyda toldInterfaxon Sunday.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis earlier confirmed the information that such talks regarding the patriarch with the EU leadership are underway.

Meanwhile, this is "already some sort of anti-diplomacy," as the task of the Foreign Ministry is to "always maintain channels of communication, but not to destroy its last opportunities," the Russian Orthodox Church spokesperson said.