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EU faces backlash after lifting sanctions on Russian billionaires
The bloc kept sanctions on nearly 3,000 people and companies while removing asset freezes and travel bans on two Russian billionaires.
- On Tuesday, the European Union lifted asset freezes and travel bans on Russian-Uzbek metals tycoon Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, co-founder of a major Russian conglomerate, despite Ukrainian objections.
- France pushed for Usmanov's removal to secure a pardon for a French citizen held in Azerbaijan, while Luxembourg sought Fridman's release to mitigate his $16-billion legal claim against the country.
- Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called the move a "very bad signal," while financier Bill Browder warned France had opened a "Pandora's box" for sanctioned oligarchs.
- In exchange for renewing Russia-related sanctions on about 3,000 other individuals and entities for three years, the bloc approved the de-listing, as EU foreign policy spokesperson Christian Wigand noted.
- Guntram Wolff of the Brussels think tank Bruegel warned the move signals the EU is willing to make "dubious exemptions," potentially emboldening oligarchs to leverage diplomatic pressure.
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19 Articles
19 Articles
The European Union's (EU) decision to remove Alfa-Bank co-founder Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list came as a surprise even to him, Bloomberg reports, citing its sources.
Following the lifting of sanctions against Alixher Usmanov and Michael Friedman, the EU can increase pressure on other Russian billionaires, Vladimir Lissin and Vladimir Potanine.
·Kyiv, Ukraine
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The EU scrapes the heavy oligarch from its sanctions list. SRF correspondent Calum MacKenzie ranks.
·Zürich, Switzerland
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""After the lifting of EU sanctions against billionaire Mikhail Fridman, his lawyers announced the search for "optimal approaches" to arbitration in the EU, taking into account Luxembourg's positive role in facilitating the lifting of sanctions."
"" After the lifting of EU sanctions against billionaire Mikhail Fridman, his lawyers announced the search for "optimal approaches" to arbitration in the EU, taking into account the positive role of Luxembourg "in facilitating the lifting of...
Coverage Details
Total News Sources19
Leaning Left3Leaning Right6Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Right
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Right
50% Right
L 25%
C 25%
R 50%
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