Council of EU extends Russia sanctions for three years but removes Russian oligarchs Fridman and Usmanov from list

Khrystyna Bondarieva , Tetyana Oliynyk - 22 September, 20:15

Stock photo: Getty Images

The Council of the EU adopted a final decision on 22 September to extend for a further 36 months sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for undermining or threatening Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. However, it removed two Russian oligarchs from the list.

Source: European Pravda, citing a press release by the Council of the European Union

Details: The current restrictive measures apply to more than 3,000 individuals and entities and include travel restrictions for individuals, asset freezes and a ban on making funds or other economic resources available to those listed.

Quote: "In the context of the sanctions' review, the Council also decided not to renew the listings of three individuals and one entity, as well as to remove three deceased persons from the list."

More details: The names of those whose sanctions were not renewed were not specified. However, European Pravda understands that two of them are Russian oligarchs Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov. The decision to extend the sanctions was delayed specifically because of discussions over their removal. The identity of the third person is yet unknown, although there are indications that the delisting followed a successful court challenge.

Earlier, the sanctions had been extended for only six months at a time. The decision to extend them for three years is the result of a compromise under which Fridman and Usmanov were removed from the list.

Background:

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called the EU's decision to remove Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions list disgraceful and unjustified.
Latvia announced that it would impose national sanctions on Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman after making concessions and lifting its veto on their removal from the EU sanctions list.
Slovakia had insisted that both Russian oligarchs be removed from the list, while France had sought the lifting of sanctions on Alisher Usmanov.
Earlier, European Pravda sources in French diplomatic circles explained why Paris wants sanctions on Usmanov lifted.

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