"A False Signal to Moscow": Sybiga Urged Not to Lift Sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman

Against Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, sanctions were imposed because they are part of the Russian aggression. Lifting restrictions from them would be a "false signal" to Moscow.

"Usmanov and Fridman were placed on sanctions lists because they are part of the aggressive Russian regime that is waging an expansionist war against Ukraine. What has changed? Nothing. Excluding them from these lists is unacceptable and would be a false signal to Moscow at a time when pressure needs to be intensified," said Sibiga. He emphasized that sanctions, on the contrary, should be strengthened, broaden the lists of sanctioned individuals, and extend their validity from six to twelve months. According to the minister, this is necessary so that there are fewer counterproductive ideas aimed at appeasing Russian oligarchs. What is known about the EU ambassadors' meeting? Jozwiak said that the meeting of ambassadors of European countries should begin at 18:00 and end at 20:00. They will consider exemptions from the sanctions list for Usmanov and Fridman and subsequently extend the duration of the restrictive measures for 36 months. France is demanding Usmanov's exclusion. FT writes that France surprised European countries by joining Slovakia at the beginning of this month in submitting a petition to exclude Usmanov from the EU sanctions list. The French government seeks his exclusion to facilitate the release of French citizens in Azerbaijan. The French ambassador told his EU colleagues that the government is pursuing the exclusion of the Russian oligarch from the list for reasons of national security. Azerbaijan previously lobbied for Usmanov’s release by Western politicians, calling him a "noted philanthropist" who has established ties between the West, Central Asia, and the broader Turkic world. In the summer, Slovakia’s government began lobbying for the exclusion of two Russian oligarchs from the EU sanctions list.

Recall that on 14 September, EU countries in Brussels failed to agree on prolonging anti-Russian sanctions. Unanimity could not be reached due to disagreements over restrictions against Usmanov and Fridman. Note that the head of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, urged the EU not to ease the sanctions regime so that Russian oligarchs could continue to finance the war machine of the Russian Federation.