Patriarch Kirill was to be included in the sixth package of European Union sanctions against Russia. However, he was excluded at the last moment.

This is reported by LRT.

Inclusion of Kirill in the sixth package of sanctions was agreed by the foreign ministers of the EU countries, as well as the leaders of these countries. However, the patriarch managed to avoid restrictions.

"There was a package of obvious evidence that was used to include Patriarch Kirill in the draft sixth sanctions package. Without the evidence, it would have been impossible," said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.

As the diplomat notes, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church was excluded from the list of sanctions already at the final stage, after the decision of the leaders, before the publication of the document.

"Obviously, there was even a political consensus. I cannot say what the reasons were. But it suggests that there is a legislative basis, that we almost had a political consensus, and therefore we can try to seek consensus anew," Gabrielius Landsbergis said.

Hungary has repeatedly blocked the imposition of sanctions against Russia. Budapest has also called for Patriarch Kirill not to be included in the list of restrictions, allegedly because it is a "threat to religious freedom.