EXCLUSIVE: France Joins Slovakia in Asking to Delist Russia's Usmanov
France and Slovakia’s push to remove Alisher Usmanov from the blacklist is blocking unanimous approval for a sanctions extension covering more than 3,000 targets.
- On Friday, France joined Slovakia in seeking to delist Russian-Uzbek businessman Alisher Usmanov from European Union sanctions, causing "huge frustration" among other member states ahead of the September 15 expiration deadline.
- EU sanctions require unanimous approval for renewal, allowing a single country to veto extensions; Slovakia has repeatedly opposed renewal, demanding removal of both Usmanov and Israeli-Russian businessman Mikhail Fridman.
- Paris calculated Slovakia would drop its demands by framing the push as a "political compromise," though the move exacerbates tensions amid escalating hybrid threats in Europe, including recent drone incursions in NATO airspace.
- Ambassadors are scheduled to meet again on Monday, one day before the measures expire on September 15, facing intense pressure to reach a political agreement before the deadline.
- The current sanctions regime targets more than 3,000 individuals linked to Russia's military-industrial complex, with individual listings historically renewed every six months but now considering a 12-month renewal cycle.
30 Articles
30 Articles
France has joined Slovakia in demanding that Russian-Uzbek oligarch Alisher Usmanov be removed from the EU sanctions list, sparking outrage in other member states. The move is particularly sensitive as the deadline for renewing the sanctions expires on September 15 and the unanimous decision required could be vetoed by any single member state. Usmanov is not unknown to Hungary either: the Hungarian government has previously also called for the r…
France supported Slovakia in its proposal to lift sanctions against Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov, informing Euronews of unnamed European diplomats.
EU ambassadors again fail to extend Russia sanctions, next meeting Sept 14
EU ambassadors on Friday once again failed to extend the sanctions against Russia; the next meeting will be held on Monday, September 14, one day before the sanctions expire, Rikard Jozwiak, editor of the European section of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, said on the social network X.
Paris sided with Slovakia in favour of removing the Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov from the EU sanctions list, a position which the French side has taken that has caused great frustration among a number of European Union States and has the potential to complicate the discussion on the extension of the European Union.
The decision was objected to by France and Slovakia, and the sanctions in force are due to expire on Tuesday.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
