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EU removes Russian oligarchs Usmanov and Fridman from sanctions list
The European Union has reached a high-stakes diplomatic compromise to extend its sanctions regime against Russia, narrowly avoiding a total expiration of all measures. As part of the agreement, the EU will remove Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions list.
The decision followed intense negotiations mediated by the Irish Presidency. France reportedly advocated for Usmanov’s removal in connection with efforts to secure the release of French citizens detained in Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, Luxembourg pushed for Fridman’s removal to protect its legal standing in a $16 billion lawsuit regarding frozen assets.
To compensate for the removal of these two individuals, EU member states agreed to extend sanctions against approximately 3,000 other Russian-linked persons and entities for three years, until September 22, 2029. This long-term extension replaces the previous six-month renewal cycle, reducing the frequency of potential vetoes. The deal faced opposition from Latvia and Sweden, with Latvian officials stating they would continue to apply national-level restrictions against the two oligarchs.
Entities
Alisher Usmanov · Azerbaijan · European Union · France · Latvia · Mikhail Fridman
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Latvia expressed disagreement with the decision and intends to apply national restrictions against the two oligarchs. wojna.co.pl · www.vesti.bg
- [● 4 SOURCES] EU member states agreed to remove Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list. www.infokuryr.cz · wojna.co.pl · plusinfo.mk · www.vesti.bg
- [● 3 SOURCES] The removal of Usmanov was linked to French efforts to secure the release of French citizens held in Azerbaijan. www.infokuryr.cz · plusinfo.mk · www.vesti.bg
- [● 2 SOURCES] Luxembourg lobbied for the removal of Mikhail Fridman to avoid weakening its legal position in a $16 billion lawsuit regarding frozen assets. www.infokuryr.cz · plusinfo.mk
- [● 4 SOURCES] Sanctions against approximately 3,000 other Russian-linked individuals and entities have been extended for 36 months. www.infokuryr.cz · wojna.co.pl · plusinfo.mk · www.vesti.bg
- [● 2 SOURCES] The new sanctions period is set to expire on September 22, 2029. wojna.co.pl · plusinfo.mk