Latvia blocks EU plan to delist Russian oligarchs Usmanov and Fridman

European Union ambassadors reached a provisional agreement to remove Russian businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the bloc's sanctions list, provided no member state objected. The removal was part of a broader package that would renew sanctions against approximately 3,000 other Russian-linked individuals and entities for three years—a significantly longer period than the EU's previous extensions of six to twelve months. Both men had been sanctioned in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Usmanov specifically cited for his particularly close ties to President Vladimir Putin.

Reports indicated that France had advocated for Usmanov's removal alongside Slovakia, prompting criticism from other member states. Diplomats suggested that France acted under pressure from Azerbaijan, which has detained at least two French citizens, although Azerbaijan denied any connection and France did not publicly acknowledge this claim. Luxembourg separately demanded Fridman's removal, contending that delisting Usmanov alone would undermine its position in an arbitration case where Fridman is claiming $16 billion from the Grand Duchy.

Ukraine's government declared the planned delisting unacceptable before the agreement was finalised, and Latvia's prime minister subsequently moved to block the deal, creating uncertainty for the sanctions renewal. The EU had already extended its existing measures by one week to prevent a lapse while the dispute continued.