EU drops sanctions for Russian oligarchs Usmanov and Fridman - DW.com

France and Luxembourg were behind the sanctions exemptions for Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, a move that Kyiv labeled "shameful and unjustifiable."

https://p.dw.com/p/5N4dU Alisher Usmanov (right) is a well known Russian oligarch with close ties to Vladirmir Putin Image: Alexei Nikolsky/Kremlin/REUTERS Advertisement The European Union on Tuesday reached a compromise to prolong sanctions for around 3,000 Russian individuals, entities and companies — but it also resulted in the lifting of sanctions on two Russian oligarchs, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman .

It all comes after lengthy negotiations ahead of a Wednesday deadline to extend the sanctions, which required unanimity among EU countries to be approved.

"The compromise will involve an extension of the regime for 36 months, until 22 September 2029," a spokesman for Ireland, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, said.

"The decision was also taken to delist certain individuals under the regime," it added.