Full Breakdown
EU Delists Two Russian Oligarchs While Extending Sanctions on 3,000 Others
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Core Decision and Immediate Details
On September 22 2026, EU envoys removed Russian-Uzbeks billionaire Alisher Usmanov and Russian-Israeli businessman Mikhail Fridman from the bloc’s Russia sanctions list. The sanctions regime covering roughly 3,000 Russian individuals, entities and companies was renewed for 36 months, extending the expiry to 22 September 2029. Latvia’s abstention allowed the deal to pass.
Background & Context
EU sanctions against Russia, imposed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, are reviewed every six months and must be renewed unanimously. France argued for Usmanov’s removal on “national-security” grounds, linked by diplomatic sources to a possible prisoner-exchange deal involving French nationals detained in Azerbaijan. Luxembourg pressed for Fridman’s delisting while he pursues a €15-€16 billion claim against the Grand Duchy over frozen assets.
Timeline
- September 21 2026 – Deadline for a unanimous renewal; negotiations stalled.
- September 22 2026 – Latvia abstains, enabling the delistings and the three-year roll-over.
- 22 September 2029 – End of the extended sanctions regime (announced by the Irish EU presidency).
- 3 October 2026 – Planned review of the sanctions framework, shifting to 36-month cycles.
Data & Statistics
- ? 3,000 individuals and entities remain sanctioned.
- Extension covers 36 months, three times longer than the usual six-month renewal.
- Usmanov’s net worth: $14 billion; Fridman’s: $16 billion.
- Fridman’s lawsuit seeks €15-16 billion in compensation.
Official Statements & Responses
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called the move “shameful and unjustifiable.”
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for willingness to add more Russian names.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed the delistings, claiming EU sanctions were illegal.
- France cited “national-security concerns” without detail.
- Luxembourg warned its legal case against Fridman would be weakened if only Usmanov were delisted.
Criticism & Opposition
Ukraine’s officials warned the delistings could undermine the sanctions regime’s credibility. Several EU members expressed unease that national interests were being placed above collective pressure on Moscow.
Why It Matters / Impact
The compromise shows the tension between a unified sanctions front and member-state priorities. Extending the regime for three years gives the EU predictability but risks a precedent where powerful individuals secure delistings through diplomatic bargaining.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree on the core agreement but differ on France’s “national-security” rationale. Some reports link it to a prisoner-exchange deal with Azerbaijan, while official French statements remain vague.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Moscow is celebrating because it got what it wanted: a sense of impunity, the humiliation of the EU, and division among Europeans,” — Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha
- “Wars end through resolve and strength, not concessions to the aggressor's entourage,” — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy