France Backs Removing Alisher Usmanov from EU Sanctions List
World
France has joined Slovakia in calling for Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov to be removed from the European Union’s sanctions list. According to Euronews, Paris’s position has caused strong frustration among several EU member states and could complicate negotiations over the renewal of the restrictions.
Slovakia has long sought the removal of Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the list and has also opposed a proposed shift from six-month to 12-month renewals of individual sanctions.
According to four EU diplomats cited by Euronews, France is now also backing Usmanov’s delisting. Paris has presented the move as a political compromise, seeking to secure Bratislava’s support for renewing the sanctions regime. A French official confirmed that Paris supports the renewal of sanctions but declined to comment on the negotiations, citing their confidential nature.
France’s position has triggered “huge frustration” among other EU member states. One European diplomat told Euronews: “It raised a lot of questions about the motivation — seems mostly economic reasons at play here. Not a lot of understanding on the side of other member states.”
Usmanov has been under EU sanctions since 2022. Born in Uzbekistan, he built his fortune through investments in metals, mining, telecommunications and technology. Usmanov denies claims that he is close to the Kremlin.
The EU sanctions regime currently covers more than 3,000 individuals and entities. Its renewal requires unanimous approval from all member states, meaning a single country can block an extension. The current measures expire on September 15, and EU ambassadors are expected to discuss the issue again before the deadline.
According to four EU diplomats cited by Euronews, France is now also backing Usmanov’s delisting. Paris has presented the move as a political compromise, seeking to secure Bratislava’s support for renewing the sanctions regime. A French official confirmed that Paris supports the renewal of sanctions but declined to comment on the negotiations, citing their confidential nature.
France’s position has triggered “huge frustration” among other EU member states. One European diplomat told Euronews: “It raised a lot of questions about the motivation — seems mostly economic reasons at play here. Not a lot of understanding on the side of other member states.”
Usmanov has been under EU sanctions since 2022. Born in Uzbekistan, he built his fortune through investments in metals, mining, telecommunications and technology. Usmanov denies claims that he is close to the Kremlin.
The EU sanctions regime currently covers more than 3,000 individuals and entities. Its renewal requires unanimous approval from all member states, meaning a single country can block an extension. The current measures expire on September 15, and EU ambassadors are expected to discuss the issue again before the deadline.
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