EU envoys agree to lift sanctions on Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman

European Union ambassadors reached an agreement on Monday to remove sanctions on Russian-linked businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman. The decision, which remains subject to a final objection period by member states, was reached as part of a broader package to extend existing sanctions on thousands of other Russian individuals and entities for a three-year period, a significant increase from the standard six or 12-month renewal cycles.

The move to delist the two men has generated internal friction within the bloc. France joined Slovakia in advocating for the removal of Usmanov, a Russian-Uzbek billionaire, while Luxembourg requested the removal of Fridman. The sanctions, which were originally imposed in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine, include asset freezes and travel bans within the European Union.

Reports indicate that France’s push to delist Usmanov followed pressure related to the detention of French nationals by Azerbaijan. While three diplomats stated that France sought the removal due to this diplomatic situation, a senior Azerbaijani official has rejected the assertion that there is a link between the detentions and the sanctions. France has not issued a public confirmation regarding its role in the push to delist Usmanov.

The European Union originally sanctioned Usmanov based on his described "particularly close ties" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The sanctions package currently being renewed covers a vast array of Russian interests, and the decision to exclude these two individuals marks a notable shift in the bloc's enforcement policy. The agreement is expected to take effect unless an individual EU government files an objection within the allotted timeframe.