EU agrees to extend sanctions against Russia and remove Usmanov and Fridman — Jerusalem Post

Ambassadors of European Union countries have reached an agreement to extend sanctions against the Russian Federation — the aggressor state — for three years and remove Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list. This became possible after Latvia abstained, the Jerusalem Post reports, citing EU diplomats.

The agreement still needs to be formalized

Under the agreement, sanctions will be extended against the remaining approximately 3,000 individuals and entities on the list. The decision can only be formally adopted after the written procedure is completed.

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EU sanctions require unanimity among member states for approval. Previously, sanctions lists concerning Russia were reviewed and extended every six months. According to diplomats, Latvia's abstention made it possible to agree on the arrangement.

Positions of France and Luxembourg

Earlier, France insisted on removing Usmanov, whom the source describes as a Russian-Uzbek metals magnate, citing national security considerations. After that, Luxembourg demanded the same decision regarding Fridman, who filed a $16 billion claim against the country.