Story perspectives

France links Usmanov delisting to French detainee release

By Drooid · Sep 15, 2026, 10:46 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

France linked Alisher Usmanov’s delisting to the release of French detainees held in Azerbaijan.
EU ambassadors extended the sanctions regime deadline by one week to 22 September.
Slovakia, demanding delisting of Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, joined France in pressing for removal.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a March 2 letter to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico requesting Usmanov’s removal.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the talks, saying lifting sanctions now would reward Russia.

History

Historical Context

On 17 March 2014 the EU and the United States launched their first coordinated sanctions against Russian officials after Crimea’s annexation, freezing assets of dozens of oligarchs. The regime grew, covering 150 individuals and 38 companies by March 2018. Today France, Slovakia and Turkey invoke that precedent, urging the EU to keep the deadline for Usmanov’s delisting until 22 September.

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Story summary

France linked Alisher Usmanov’s delisting to the release of French detainees held in Azerbaijan.
EU ambassadors extended the sanctions regime deadline by one week to 22 September.
Slovakia, demanding delisting of Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, joined France in pressing for removal.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a March 2 letter to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico requesting Usmanov’s removal.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the talks, saying lifting sanctions now would reward Russia.

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