EU removes two Russian billionaires from sanctions list

Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman were cut from the blacklist after capitals yielded to lobbying by France behind closed doors.

Copy Link Copied Share via email Share on X Share on WhatsApp Share on LinkedIn Mikhail Fridman attends a conference in Moscow on Sept. 17, 2019. | Pool photo by Pavel Golovkin via AFP/Getty Images September 22, 2026 4:58 pm CET By Gabriel Gavin , Nicholas Vinocur , Koen Verhelst and Kathryn Carlson BRUSSELS — Two of Russia’s wealthiest men could soon be free to operate inside the EU after the bloc moved to lift restrictions on them and their empires as part of a high-stakes diplomatic play.

Capitals struck a deal on Tuesday to cut Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list, five diplomats told POLITICO, granted anonymity to speak frankly.