EU deadlocked over France’s bid to take Russian tycoon off sanctions list
Paris wants Alisher Usmanov removed from the bloc’s blacklist. Other capitals aren’t convinced.
EU nations are at odds over whether to lift sanctions on a controversial Russian tycoon, Alisher Usmanov, whose name appears on a sanctions list alongside hundreds of other individuals accused of supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. EU ambassadors gathered in Brussels to discuss the upcoming renewal of sanctions, which must be agreed upon unanimously every six months.
France joined Slovakia in pushing for Usmanov's delisting due to unspecified national security concerns, with around 11 member states supporting the move. Approximately 3,000 listings, including Usmanov's, are set to expire soon after Paris withheld its support for the renewal. While diplomatic sources say capitals are divided, some suggest a compromise could extend the sanctions for up to 36 months.
Delisting Usmanov could enable him to move money in and out of the EU, engage in business with European firms, and potentially travel to the bloc. However, critics fear setting a dangerous precedent if one prominent billionaire is removed from the list. Luxembourg is pushing for the delisting of Mikhail Fridman, a Russian-Israeli tycoon, who is suing Luxembourg for the release of frozen assets.
EU capitals expressed worry last week that removing one wealthy individual from the sanctions list could be perceived as a dangerous precedent. France has not publicly explained its motivations but claims the move relates to a specific national security issue and aims to address concerns raised by international partners. Usmanov denies allegations of supporting Russia's war and has campaigned to be removed from the sanctions list.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
