The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has rejected an amendment that sought to introduce targeted sanctions against Patriarch Kirill and senior figures of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), following a vote held during its spring session in Strasbourg on April 21, 2026.
The proposal formed part of a wider draft resolution titled “Countering discrimination based on religion and protecting freedom of religion or belief in Europe.” It was submitted by members of the Ukrainian delegation led by MP Oleksiy Honcharenko, along with several co-sponsoring lawmakers from the same delegation. The amendment called for restrictive measures directed at Patriarch Kirill and the ROC leadership, citing concerns over their alleged support or justification of state-related policies and broader geopolitical developments.
According to the official voting results, the amendment did not gain enough support to pass. It received 36 votes in favor, 51 votes against, and 9 abstentions, resulting in its rejection by the Assembly. The explanatory note attached to the amendment was brief, containing only the phrase “Self-explanatory,” without further elaboration.
While the proposal on sanctions was not adopted, PACE did approve another amendment to the resolution that addressed the broader role of religion in public and political discourse. The adopted language expressed concern about the increasing use of religion in political messaging, influence, and communication strategies. It also noted that religious institutions can be used as instruments of influence and propaganda, and highlighted concerns regarding the role of religious leadership in shaping ideological narratives in certain contexts.
However, during the final adoption process, more specific references to individual religious figures and institutions were removed from the operative sections of the resolution. As a result, the final text maintains a more general framing, without directly naming Patriarch Kirill, the ROC, or specific ideological terms.
The final adopted document ultimately focuses on broader concerns about the intersection of religion and political influence, stating that religion can be used as a tool in political communication and influence. It avoids direct attribution to particular religious organizations or leaders in its binding sections.
The outcome of the vote reflects differing positions among Assembly members regarding the inclusion of targeted measures in resolutions dealing with religion, freedom of belief, and political influence in Europe. While some members supported stronger language and specific references, the majority opted for a more general approach in the final text.
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