EU deal to lift sanctions on Russian oligarchs Usmanov, Fridman stalls

The useful part

According to an EU diplomat, the required unanimity was not achieved in the written decision-making procedure. The ambassadors of the member states are now due to meet again on Tuesday morning for further discussions. The planned lifting of sanctions against Usmanov and Fridman is tied to a decision on extending measures against around 3,000 other individuals, entities and companies.

How it works

• These sanctions would otherwise expire overnight in the early hours of Wednesday.
• The sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman were imposed days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
• The EU's 27 member states are set to lift the travel ban and asset freezes on the duo over fears that some could otherwise fail to unanimously back the extension of sanctions.
• EU sanctions over Russia's war in Ukraine on individuals and businesses have to be renewed periodically.
• According to information obtained by dpa, France and Slovakia campaigned for the easing of sanctions imposed against Usmanov, while Luxembourg pushed for Fridman's sanctions to be lifted.

What to take from it

Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar said previously that the country was supporting the oligarch in his legal battle against EU sanctions. According to a report by Radio Free Europe, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fi...

Details worth keeping

Russian oligarchs, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, reported dpa. Time is running out for the EU member states. Official EU documents describe Usmanov as a "pro-Kremlin oligarch with particularly close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin." Meanwhile, Fridman "has been referred to as a top Russian financier and enabler of Putin's inner circle," according to the bloc.