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Latvia blocked the lifting of EU sanctions against Russian billionaires Usmanov and Fridman
European officials wanted to lift restrictions on Usmanov and Fridman in exchange for the fact that sanctions against the remaining 2,600 defendants would be extended for three years instead of 6 months. Most EU countries agreed, France and Slovakia actively lobbied for this step, but Riga was categorically against it and blocked the deal.
Paris tried to remove Usmanov from the lists in the hope of exchanging him for two Frenchmen sitting in an Azerbaijani prison. But due to Latvia’s decision, the sanctions have so far been extended for only seven days. If the countries do not agree soon, the entire European sanctions list will be at risk.
ℹ️ Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman were sanctioned as people from Putin’s inner circle who helped finance Russian aggression against Ukraine.
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