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EU ambassadors fail to finalize renewal of Russia-related individual sanctions
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Three-year renewal resolves impasse with two delistings
EU governments agreed September 22 to renew sanctions on nearly 3,000 Russia-linked people and entities for three years, resolving the previously reported impasse while removing Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the list. The longer renewal replaces six-month reviews, making the restrictions more durable but less frequently reconsidered. Azerbaijan pardoned French citizen Martin Ryan the next day; his release had not been confirmed when Reuters reported. Three European diplomats linked France’s support for Usmanov’s delisting to efforts concerning French detainees, while Azerbaijan rejected allegations of a pressure campaign.
EU removes Usmanov and Fridman from sanctions list · Azerbaijan pardons French national after EU drops sanctions on Usmanov · EU removes two oligarchs from Russia sanctions list as deadline looms
Ambassadors resume negotiations hours before temporary extension expires
EU ambassadors failed late September 21 to agree on renewing sanctions covering nearly 3,000 Russia-linked people and entities. Negotiations were scheduled to resume at 8 a.m. Brussels time September 22 before a temporary extension expires; renewal requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states. The reported compromise would extend most listings for 36 months while removing Russian businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, both of whom dispute the allegations underlying their restrictions. Latvia remained opposed, according to three diplomats cited by the Kyiv Independent. The impasse concerns asset freezes and travel bans on listed parties, not the EU’s separate sectoral economic sanctions.
EU fails to finalize Russia sanctions deal, ambassadors to reconvene hours before deadline