Azerbaijan pardons French national after EU drops sanctions on Usmanov
- neutral toward Alisher Usmanov · 99%

Azerbaijan's President Aliyev pardoned French citizen Martin Ryan, jailed for espionage, as part of a deal in which France secured Usmanov's removal from the EU's Russia sanctions list. Ryan is expected to fly to Paris on Wednesday.

The EU has agreed to remove Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions list, while extending restrictions on nearly 3,000 individuals and companies linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine for another three years. The decision came after difficult negotiations, as EU sanctions require unanimous approval from all 27 member states. Caroline Baum reports.

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday pardoned a French national imprisoned for espionage a day after the EU lifted sanctions on Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov following what diplomats said was pressure from Baku.

France and Luxembourg were behind the sanctions exemptions for Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, a move that Kyiv labeled "shameful and unjustifiable."

Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman both have close ties to President Putin, and Kyiv said the move sent Moscow the wrong signals.

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs spoke exclusively to Euronews about his last-minute change in tune over a sanctions saga that has gripped Brussels, while also warning of remaining dangers.

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs spoke exclusively to Euronews about his last-minute change in tune over a sanctions saga that has gripped Brussels, while also warning of remaining dangers.

Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman delisted in what Ireland’s EU presidency called ‘a difficult compromise’ for the bloc The EU has agreed to remove two Russian billionaires, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, from its sanctions list, while extending restrictions on nearly 3,000 individuals and companies accused of supporting the war on Ukraine for the next three years. With an end-of-Tuesday deadline looming to preserve the Russia blacklist, the EU’s 27 member states found a compromise that meant delisting the two oligarchs in spite of very few countries wanting this outcome. EU sanctions have to be approved unanimously. Continue reading...

Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov removed from bloc’s list under deal to extend curbs for three years

Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman were cut from the blacklist after capitals gave in to a lobbying bid by France behind closed doors.
The EU's decision may strain relations with Ukraine and highlight internal divisions, impacting future diplomatic and economic strategies.

France succeeded in its push to remove Alisher Usmanov from the EU sanctions list as part of a prisoner release with Azerbaijan. A second high-profile businessman, Mikhail Fridman, was also removed.

France succeeded in its push to remove Alisher Usmanov from the EU sanctions list as part of a prisoner release with Azerbaijan. A second high-profile businessman, Mikhail Fridman, was also removed.
The French request would lift E.U. sanctions on Alisher Usmanov, whom the E.U referred to as “one of Vladimir Putin’s favorite oligarchs,” in a bid to free French citizens held in Azerbaijan.

The EU must not remove Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said amid fraught negotiations in Brussels. "Pressure on Moscow must be strengthened," he said.

EU countries failed Monday to finalise a deal that involved lifting sanctions on Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, Multiple diplomats said earlier that member states had reached a provisional agreement to take the pair off the EU's blacklist as part of a compromise to extend sanctions on almost 3,000 other individuals and entities over the Ukraine war. France 24's Dave Keating has more from Brussels.

Without an agreement sanctions on nearly 3,000 entities accused of supporting the war on Ukraine will lapse at the end of the day in Brussels The EU is deadlocked over a plan to remove two Russian billionaires, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, from its sanctions list as part of a bitterly disputed deal to keep broader restrictions in place on nearly 3,000 people and companies accused of enabling Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine. “Extending sanctions for 36 months would be the right step. However, the price for it must not be simply striking both individuals from the sanctions list. Latvia cannot accept SUCH an offer.” Continue reading...