EU lifts sanctions on Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman

The Council of the European Union has removed sanctions from USM founder Alisher Usmanov and Alfa Group co-founder Mikhail Fridman, while extending restrictions against other individuals on the list for three years.

The European Council's decision of September 22 was published in the Official Journal of the Union. According to the document, personal sanctions against approximately 3,000 individuals and legal entities have been extended until September 2029, instead of the standard six months. Restrictions against Fridman's partners in Alfa Group - Petr Aven, German Khan, and Alexei Kuzmichev - remain in force.

According to diplomatic sources from Reuters, the decision was part of a compromise deal. France, citing national security concerns, and Slovakia advocated for Usmanov's exceptions. Luxembourg proposed lifting sanctions from Fridman amid a lawsuit filed by the businessman against the country's authorities for $16 billion due to the blocking of assets. Latvia initially opposed the compromise but ultimately abstained from voting, allowing the document to be approved by consensus.

As reported by the Financial Times and sources from Reuters, Paris's position was linked to an agreement on the release of French citizens detained in Azerbaijan. Baku denied any connection between these processes. On the morning of September 23, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree pardoning 20 people, including French citizen Martin Ryan, who was convicted in the country.

The EU imposed sanctions on Usmanov in 2022. The billionaire challenged them in the European court but had his appeal rejected. Usmanov insisted that he became a target for restrictions solely due to his fame and wealth.