Published: · Region: Eastern Europe · Category: geopolitics

Lithuania bars Russian billionaires Usmanov and Fridman after EU lifts sanctions

Lithuania has imposed national sanctions on Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, declaring them persona non grata for five years after the EU removed them from its sanctions lists, while Latvia and Estonia signal they plan similar measures.

Lithuania is keeping two prominent Russian businessmen under national sanctions even after European Union measures against them were dropped, underscoring a sharper approach among Baltic states.

Authorities in Vilnius have imposed national sanctions on Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman after the pair were removed from EU‑level sanctions lists. Both men have been declared persona non grata and banned from entering Lithuania for five years. The restrictions can be reviewed and extended later.

Officials in Latvia and Estonia have indicated they intend to introduce similar national sanctions on the two billionaires. That would create a coordinated Baltic response that goes beyond the common EU framework.

For Usmanov and Fridman, Lithuania’s decision limits their ability to travel to that country and, if Latvia and Estonia follow through, will bar entry to all three Baltic states. The move also sends a political signal that these governments still view them as linked to Russia’s power structures in ways they consider concerning, regardless of changes in the EU’s listings.

The divergence between EU decisions and national measures raises questions about how aligned member states are on sanctions policy as the war in Ukraine continues. When some governments choose to tighten restrictions that others have eased, it creates a more complex landscape for those affected and for countries watching Europe’s stance.

Key developments to watch include formal announcements from Latvia and Estonia detailing their planned sanctions, any legal action by Usmanov or Fridman in European courts, and whether other states pursue their own national measures in parallel with or in addition to EU regimes.

Sources

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