{
  "id": 7522978,
  "title": "Russland: Frankreich will russischen Oligarchen Usmanow von EU-Sanktionsliste streichen",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/russland-frankreich-will-russischen-oligarchen-usmanow-von-eu",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-15T09:44:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/russland-frankreich-will-oligarch-usmanow-von-eu-sanktionsliste-streichen/100254614.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Frankreich is urging European Union member states to lift sanctions against Russian billionaire Alischer Usmanow, as media reports confirm. This comes as the EU prepares to extend sanctions against around 2,600 individuals and organizations, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine earlier this year. The sanctions, which were first imposed, were set to be extended for an additional week to give more time for negotiations. However, France and Slovakia had blocked a twelve-month extension on Monday, pending Usmanow's removal from the sanctions list. If no agreement is reached by Wednesday, all other Russian nationals and companies would be stripped of their sanctions status. French government representatives have not yet responded to media inquiries, while Usmanow's press office and the Azerbaijani foreign ministry have also declined to comment. The French government has previously stated that the issue revolves around a specific national security concern, though the details remain undisclosed. EU sanctions require the agreement of all member states, leading to repeated dilution or delays of measures and extensions often driven by individual countries' national interests. Ukraine has criticized the EU's sanctions against Usmanow, arguing that he has \"close ties\" to President Vladimir Putin and is among the businessmen who manage financial flows subject to the president's discretion. Usmanow has dismissed the EU's justification and has filed numerous lawsuits against the sanctions in various European countries, with little success due to vetoes from Hungary's Viktor Orbán and Slovakia's Robert Fico. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has also criticized the potential relaxation of sanctions against Usmanow, stating that \"this is definitely not the time to lift sanctions and save Russian oligarchs.\" The 73-year-old Usmanow owns 49% of USM, a Russian investment group that controls the country's largest iron ore producer, Metalloinvest, and has a stake in the telecommunications company MegaFon. Forbes currently ranks Usmanow as the seventh wealthiest Russian, with a net worth of $16.6 billion. Internationally, Usmanow is best known for his former ownership of the London football club Arsenal, which he sold in 2018, and for serving as president of the International Fencing Federation for decades, as well as being a prominent supporter of the sport. He stepped down from his position in 2024.",
  "summary": "Französische Diplomaten wollen die Freilassung von Inhaftierten in Aserbaidschan erreichen und ein Gegengeschäft machen. Unklar ist, worum es dabei genau geht. Die Zeit drängt.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}