EU envoys move to lift sanctions on Russian tycoons Usmanov and Fridman, pending last‑minute objections
EU ambassadors have agreed to lift sanctions on Russian businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, according to Reuters, with the decision still subject to any formal objections from member states.
European Union ambassadors have taken a step toward easing individual sanctions on two of Russia’s best‑known businessmen, in a move that will now be tested against political and legal pushback inside the bloc.
According to Reuters, EU envoys have agreed to lift sanctions on Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, both Russian businessmen who were placed under EU measures after the full‑scale invasion of Ukraine. The change will take effect unless member states lodge objections before the decision is finalised.
Usmanov and Fridman were among the highest‑profile figures targeted by EU asset freezes and travel bans. Removing them from the list would mark a notable adjustment to that policy, even if broader sanctions on Russian energy, finance and technology stay in place.
For ordinary Europeans and Russians, delisting two tycoons will not transform daily life, but it does send a signal about how long and how tightly the EU intends to maintain pressure on individuals linked to Russia.
The timing intersects with other signs of strain around sanctions. Hungary is asking the US to exempt it from potential penalties tied to ongoing Russian oil purchases, as Budapest seeks to maintain energy ties with Moscow while reducing dependence over time. The Kremlin, for its part, has publicly argued that a large part of Germany’s loss of competitiveness stems from abandoning cheap Russian gas in favour of more expensive supplies from elsewhere.
What happens next will depend on whether any EU governments formally challenge the delisting, whether courts rule in related cases brought by sanctioned individuals, and how Kyiv and its closest European supporters react to the change.
Sources
- OSINT