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EU sanctions deadlock deepens over Russian oligarch delisting
European Union member states have reached a deadlock regarding the renewal of the bloc's sanctions list, resulting in a decision to extend the current list of nearly 3,000 sanctioned entities and individuals by only one week.
France and Slovakia are pushing to remove Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov from the sanctions list. Reports suggest France's position may be a diplomatic maneuver to secure the release of French citizens currently detained in Azerbaijan, including Martin Ryan, who was sentenced to ten years for espionage, and Anass Derraz, sentenced to twelve years for corruption.
Luxembourg has complicated the negotiations by demanding that if Usmanov is delisted, Mikhail Fridman must also be removed. Fridman is currently engaged in legal battles with Luxembourg over approximately $16 billion in frozen assets. The impasse has caused frustration among other EU member states, with some diplomats warning that prioritizing national interests over collective policy risks a 'race to the bottom' in the face of Russian aggression.
Entities
Alisher Usmanov · Azerbaijan · Donald Tusk · Emmanuel Macron · European Union · France · Mikhail Fridman · Robert Fico
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Anass Derraz, a director at Saur, is detained in Azerbaijan and sentenced to twelve years in prison for corruption. www.challenges.fr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Mikhail Fridman is suing Luxembourg over the freezing of his assets, estimated at approximately $16 billion. www.euronews.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The EU sanctions blacklist, containing nearly 3,000 individuals and entities, has been extended for one week. wiadomosci.onet.pl
- [● 3 SOURCES] France and Slovakia are demanding the removal of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov from the sanctions list. www.challenges.fr · www.euronews.com · wiadomosci.onet.pl
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Luxembourg has stated that if Usmanov is delisted, Mikhail Fridman should also be removed from the sanctions list. www.euronews.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The EU sanctions list requires unanimous support from member states for renewal every six months. www.euronews.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] France's request to delist Usmanov is reportedly linked to the desire to secure the release of French citizens detained in Azerbaijan. www.challenges.fr · www.euronews.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Martin Ryan is a French citizen detained in Azerbaijan, sentenced to ten years in prison for espionage. www.challenges.fr