Latvia to impose national sanctions on Russian oligarchs Usmanov and Fridman after EU compromise

Latvia will impose national sanctions on the Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman after making concessions and lifting its veto on their removal from the EU sanctions list.

Source: European Pravda, citing a statement by the Latvian government on 22 September

Details: Latvia's Cabinet of Ministers has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately draw up a proposal, legal justification and the necessary draft legislation to enable Latvia to impose national sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman.

Quote: "Latvia will continue to use all legal instruments at its disposal to prevent the unfreezing of these individuals' funds and economic resources in Latvia."

More details: The Cabinet of Ministers also said that at a closed meeting on 22 September, it had agreed on Latvia's position on extending EU sanctions against Russia. The deal ensured that personal sanctions against more than 2,600 Russian supporters of the war and related individuals and entities would be extended for the next three years. Up until now, the decision has had to be taken every six months.

During the procedure for the adoption of the decision by the Council of the EU, however, Latvia's representative will abstain from voting in order to maintain and publicly express Latvia's political opposition to the lifting of EU sanctions on the two oligarchs.

"Throughout the negotiations with the leaders of EU member states, Latvia opposed the removal of politically motivated individuals from the individual sanctions list and was the only EU member state to maintain this position until the very end. It was the morally right position, and our allies in Ukraine appreciated it," Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said.

He added that "this was not a choice between a good and a bad decision, but between a bad one and a much worse one – a choice between changing the status of two individuals and the future of the entire sanctions regime".

Quote from Kulbergs: "By deciding to continue imposing sanctions on these individuals, we have achieved an outcome that is more beneficial for Latvia, Ukraine and Europe in the long term."

Background:

• Amid the announcement of Riga's decision, it was reported that French President Emmanuel Macron has agreed to begin talks with Latvia on joining France's nuclear deterrence initiative, and that France has committed to strengthening its military presence in Latvia.
• European Pravda sources in French diplomatic circles explained why Paris wanted to lift sanctions on Usmanov. It later emerged that France planned to "exchange" Usmanov's delisting for the release of several French citizens who are currently in prison in Azerbaijan.

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