{
  "id": 9167573,
  "title": "EU agrees to lift sanctions on Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/eu-agrees-to-lift-sanctions-on-russian-billionaires-alisher-usmanov",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-22T16:31:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Meduza (English)",
    "slug": "meduza-english",
    "url": "https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/09/22/eu-agrees-to-lift-sanctions-on-russian-billionaires-alisher-usmanov-and-mikhail-fridman"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "EU representatives have agreed to remove Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list. The sanctions, which were set to expire on September 15, will now be extended for three years in exchange for the businessmen being removed from the sanctions list. Slovakia, France, and Luxembourg pushed for the removal of the sanctions against Usmanov and Fridman, with France citing national security considerations and Luxembourg linking its support to a lawsuit filed by Fridman against Luxembourg's authorities. The decision was reached after Latvia ultimately lifted its veto, opting for a constructive abstention. EU sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman were first imposed in 2022, as they were deemed part of Vladimir Putin's inner circle. Both billionaires sought to challenge the restrictions and enlisted Western lobbyists to push for their removal.",
  "summary": "EU member states’ permanent representatives have agreed to remove two Russian billionaires — USM Holdings founder Alisher Usmanov and Alfa Group co-founder Mikhail Fridman — from the sanctions list, according to Reuters and Euronews.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ukrinform - Politics",
        "title": "Zelensky thanks Latvia for support in extending sanctions against Russian businessmen",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/zelensky-thanks-latvia-for-support-in-extending-sanctions-against",
        "published": "2026-09-22T14:31:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "Latvia gives in to France's demands to lift EU sanctions on two Russian oligarchs, diplomats say",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/latvia-gives-in-to-frances-demands-to-lift-eu-sanctions-on-two",
        "published": "2026-09-22T14:58:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "EU renews Russia sanctions, drops Russian billionaires Usmanov and Fridman",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/eu-renews-russia-sanctions-drops-russian-billionaires-usmanov-and",
        "published": "2026-09-22T17:00:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Interfax-Ukraine",
        "title": "EU removes Usmanov, Friedman from its sanctions list",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/eu-removes-usmanov-friedman-from-its-sanctions-list",
        "published": "2026-09-22T17:51:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "EU drops sanctions for Russian oligarchs Usmanov and Fridman",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/eu-drops-sanctions-for-russian-oligarchs-usmanov-and-fridman",
        "published": "2026-09-22T19:43:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}