Key facts
- France is pushing for the removal of Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov from the EU sanctions list.
- France's advocacy for Usmanov was initially presented as a concession to Slovakia.
- French officials cited "national security reasons" and a wish to respond positively to international partners.
- Usmanov has been sanctioned by the EU, U.S., U.K., and Kyiv since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
- Usmanov rejects charges of material support for Russia's war and his depiction as an oligarch.
- EU ambassadors failed to agree on Usmanov's delisting during a closed-door meeting.
France has one week to convince other European Union countries that its push to remove Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov from the bloc’s sanctions list will not undermine existing restrictions on Moscow. EU ambassadors failed to reach an agreement on the matter during a closed-door meeting, known as Coreper, on Monday. The envoys are set to reconvene on September 22, with the issue also being discussed by foreign ministers on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Several diplomats and officials expressed concern that delisting Usmanov could lead to other sanctioned individuals seeking removal, potentially fracturing the EU's sanctions regime against Russia. "If France goes ahead with this, others will come forward with their own oligarchs that should be delisted... [then] the house of cards starts to fall," a senior EU official stated.
Paris initially framed its support for Usmanov's delisting as a concession to Slovakia, which had previously advocated for his removal. However, French officials have since indicated that Paris has "a specific national security issue and wish[es] to respond positively to international partners who have approached us regarding Mr. Usmanov." This could potentially involve the release of French nationals detained in Azerbaijan, an ally of Uzbekistan, according to reports.
Usmanov, a mining and metals tycoon, was sanctioned by the EU, U.S., U.K., and Kyiv in 2022 for allegedly providing material support to Russia's war in Ukraine. He denies these charges and rejects his depiction as an oligarch. The EU's decision on his sanctions has been postponed, with ambassadors extending the deadline by a week.