EU lifts sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman

The European Union removed sanctions against Russian businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, while extending restrictions on approximately 3,000 other individuals and entities for three years. The move followed pressure from France and Luxembourg, with France citing national security and diplomatic concerns related to detained French citizens in Azerbaijan.

Consensus

The European Union removed sanctions against Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman.
The EU extended sanctions against approximately 3,000 Russian individuals and organizations for three years.
The decision was made by the Council of the European Union on September 22.
The removal of sanctions from Usmanov and Fridman was part of a broader agreement to extend the sanctions regime.
The European Commission published the list of exclusions in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Points of divergence

France proposed lifting sanctions on Usmanov to secure a three-year extension of sanctions against other Russian businesspeople. — riamo
The EU also removed Andrey Falaleev, former rector of the Crimean Federal University, from the sanctions list. — tg_astrapress
Luxembourg requested the removal of sanctions from Fridman due to a $16 billion arbitration case against the country. — tg_varlamov_news
Latvia opposed the request from France and Luxembourg, calling the decision 'a complete disgrace' and the end of the sanctions regime. — tg_moscowtimes_ru
France's position was influenced by pressure from Azerbaijan over detained French citizens. — tg_moscowtimes_ru
France's stance was motivated by national security and international partner appeals regarding Usmanov. — tg_varlamov_news
France claimed the decision was in the interest of the country and did not diminish the value of existing sanctions. — riamo
The EU decision was made under pressure from France and Luxembourg. — tg_moscowtimes_ru

Coverage (17 sources)

Barro explained why the EU decided to lift sanctions on Usmanov — РИАМО
EU lifted sanctions on Usmanov and Friedman, and removed former rector of 'Crimean Federal University'... — ASTRA
Sanctions on Usmanov and Friedman lifted by EU. But could this have been done? And how are EU sanction rules actually structured? — Meduza
EU agreed to lift sanctions on Usmanov and Friedman — media — BBC News Русская служба
EU agreed to lift sanctions on Usmanov and Friedman — media — BBC News Русская служба
In the EU, it was agreed that billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Friedman will be excluded from the sanctions list in exchange for a three-year... — ASTRA
Usmanov and Friedman excluded from European sanctions list — Интерфакс
EU excludes businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from sanctions list, says EU journal. — Varlamov News
EU preliminarily agreed to lift sanctions on Usmanov and Friedman Permanent representatives of 27 EU countries preliminarily... — SOTAvision
«This is utter shame». EU lifted sanctions on billionaires Usmanov and Friedman under pressure from France and Luxembourg — The Moscow Times
EU Ambassadors Decided to Lift Sanctions on Usmanov and Friedman — Вести
Reuters: EU lifted sanctions against businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman — Вечерняя Москва
Sanctions on Russian businessmen Usmanov and Friedman to be lifted — Reuters — Дождь (Telegram)
EU countries ready to lift sanctions on Usmanov and Friedman EU ambassadors agreed to cancel sanctions against businessmen Alisger Usmanov and Mikhail Friedman if no EU government objects to this step in the next few... — Настоящее Время
EU countries ready to lift sanctions on Usmanov and Friedman — Reuters. Ambassadors of 27 countries agreed on Monday to lift sanctions on... — Дождь (Telegram)
EU preliminarily agreed to lift sanctions on Usmanov and Friedman — SOTAvision
In the EU, sanctions against Usmanov and Friedman were agreed upon for removal — Вести

EU lifts sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman

Consensus

Points of divergence

Coverage (17 sources)

Key entities

More on Usmanov

More on Fridman