The European Union has agreed to extend individual sanctions against around 3,000 people and entities linked to Russia for another 36 months, while removing two prominent Russian oligarchs, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, from its sanctions list as part of a compromise among member states.
The decision followed days of tense negotiations that risked allowing the sanctions regime to expire. The measures, which include asset freezes and travel bans, are normally renewed every six months but will now remain in force until September 22, 2029.
The removal of Usmanov from the sanctions list was pushed by France and Slovakia. According to European diplomats, France linked its position to national security concerns and pressure from Azerbaijan. Baku has denied using Usmanov’s case as a means of exerting pressure on EU member states.
In Fridman’s case, France and Luxembourg supported lifting the sanctions. Fridman has also taken legal action against the measures and has sought $16 billion in damages from Luxembourg.
The compromise initially faced opposition from Latvia, which argued that extending the sanctions for 36 months should not be tied to the removal of two individuals from the list. Latvia ultimately abstained, allowing the agreement to move forward.
The decision has drawn strong criticism from Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the removal of sanctions against the two oligarchs as “shameful and unjustifiable” and called on EU member states to impose national sanctions against them.
The agreement was ultimately presented as a compromise aimed at preventing the expiration of sanctions against thousands of other Russian individuals and entities while preserving the EU’s broader sanctions framework against Moscow.
