{
  "id": 9205137,
  "title": "Latvia To Impose National Sanctions On Russian Oligarchs Removed From EU List",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/latvia-to-impose-national-sanctions-on-russian-oligarchs-removed-from",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-22T20:55:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "UATV English",
    "slug": "uatv-english",
    "url": "https://uatv.ua/en/latvia-to-impose-national-sanctions-on-russian-oligarchs-removed-from-eu-list/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Latvia intends to enact national sanctions against Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, following the European Union's decision to delist them, according to UATV English. The Baltic nation had initially opposed the removal of the businesspeople from the sanctions list until the final stages of negotiations. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs explained that Latvia agreed to the compromise as it secured a three-year extension of individual sanctions against around 3,000 Russian war supporters, preventing the measures from needing to be renewed every six months. Kulbergs emphasized that Russia's aggression against Ukraine has not lessened, and therefore, sanctions against the aggressor should be intensified, not weakened. He reiterated that Latvia had opposed removing politically motivated individuals from the EU's individual sanctions list throughout the negotiations, being the sole member state to uphold this stance until the end. Kulbergs stated that this was the morally correct position, and his fellow Ukrainian allies appreciated Latvia's stance.\n\nIn response to the compromise, French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to initiate discussions with Riga regarding Latvia's participation in France's nuclear deterrence initiative. Additionally, Paris committed to enhancing its military presence in Latvia, particularly in air defense capabilities. An EU member states' consensus was reached to extend sanctions against Russia for an additional three years, with the term concluding on September 22, 2029. Simultaneously, Usmanov and Fridman were removed from the bloc's sanctions list.",
  "summary": "Latvia plans to impose national sanctions on Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman after the European Union agreed to remove them from its sanctions list, UATV English reports. Latvia had opposed the removal of the two businessmen until the final stage of negotiations. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said Riga agreed to the compromise because it secured a three-year extension of…",
  "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."
}