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France forces the EU to lift sanctions on a Russian oligarch

France engineered the removal of Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the European Union sanctions list. Paris backed lifting these individual restrictions in exchange for extending the remaining broad individual penalties for another three years. Following this decision, other Russian tycoons are examining how these billionaires shook off the bloc measures to find potential loopholes. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials continue pressing Brussels to target additional figures, such as Vladimir Lisin and Vladimir Potanin, to cut their enterprises off from Europe.

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  • ✓ France backed lifting European Union sanctions on Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov in exchange for extending the remaining individual restrictions for another three years.
  • ✓ Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman have become the first major figures to successfully get themselves removed from the European Union sanctions list.
🛡️ Source Corroboration: 12 independent reporting domains (90% confidence) ⏱ Read time: ~2 min

What changed

France successfully forced the European Union to lift sanctions on Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman.

Live updates

  1. France Forces EU to Lift Sanctions on Russian Oligarchs Usmanov and Fridman

    France engineered the removal of Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the European Union sanctions list. Paris backed lifting these individual restrictions in exchange for extending the remaining broad individual penalties for another three years. Following this decision, other Russian tycoons are examining how these billionaires shook off the bloc measures to find potential loopholes. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials continue pressing Brussels to target additional figures, such as Vladimir Lisin and Vladimir Potanin, to cut their enterprises off from Europe.

    Why it matters

    Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman are the first major figures to successfully remove themselves from the European Union red list after four and a half years of widespread penalties against Russian billionaires. The move exposes internal divisions within the bloc regarding enforcement and toughness against Moscow. Other nations and officials are responding to the policy shift as Russian billionaires search for ways to evade asset freezes and travel bans.

    What is confirmed

    • France backed lifting European Union sanctions on Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov in exchange for extending the remaining individual restrictions for another three years.
    • Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman have become the first major figures to successfully get themselves removed from the European Union sanctions list.

    Still unconfirmed

    • Diplomatic sources claim the concession to lift sanctions on the billionaire was made in exchange for the release of French citizens detained in Azerbaijan.

    What to watch next

    • Decisions by other European capitals on whether to implement national sanctions against the delisted oligarchs
    • Potential adoption of new European Union sanctions packages targeting steel and nickel tycoons like Vladimir Lisin and Vladimir Potanin
    Sources used for this update (15)
    1. The Washington Post — France blocks E.U. sanctions on Russia in push to spare oligarch Usmanov
    2. The Guardian — EU removes oligarchs from Russia sanctions list as deadline looms
    3. economist.com — France forces the EU to lift sanctions on a Russian oligarch
    4. USA Today — US, Europe worry Russia is testing NATO with hybrid attacks and sabotage
    5. Bloomberg.com — Russia Tycoons Examine How Billionaires Shook Off EU Sanctions
    6. Fox News — She grew up under Soviet rule. Now EU's top diplomat warns Europe against giving Russia what it wants
    7. news.inbox.lv — Russian Oligarchs Excluded from EU Sanctions to Face National Sanctions - News feed at
    8. united24media.com — Kyiv Urges EU to Target Russian Steel and Nickel Tycoons in Next Sanctions Package — UNITED24 Media
    9. news.inbox.lv — Latest news bulletin | September 24th, 2026 – Evening
    10. newsukraine.rbc.ua — Usmanov, Fridman off sanctions list, other Russian ...
    11. newsukraine.rbc.ua — Russia's billionaire Usmanov escapes EU sanctions, France ...
    12. en.thebell.io — Sanctions lifted from oligarchs Usmanov and Fridman - The Bell
    confidence 90%
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