European Union removes two Russian oligarchs from sanctions list

The European Union has removed two Russian billionaires from its sanctions list. On September 22, all 27 EU member states agreed to drop restrictions on Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman. Both men are said to have close ties to Vladimir Putin, though they deny this.

Three countries, France, Luxembourg, and Slovakia, refused to approve the deal unless the two men were removed. Without agreement by 2200 GMT, all existing sanctions would have expired. As a compromise, the EU delisted the two oligarchs and extended sanctions on around 3,000 other Russian individuals and entities for three years.

Usmanov and Fridman will now be able to access their frozen assets and travel freely in Europe. Ukraine has called the decision unacceptable.