France Sides with Slovakia in Russia Sanctions Row

France has joined Slovakia in calling for Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov to be removed from the EU sanctions list, as the bloc struggles to secure unanimous agreement on renewing its sanctions against Russia.

Slovakia has been holding up the renewal while demanding that Usmanov and fellow Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman be removed from the list. EU sanctions require the approval of all 27 member states. The Slovak government has insisted that anyone placed on the EU sanctions list without sufficiently strong legal evidence should be removed as a matter of fairness and consistency.

France’s decision to back Usmanov’s removal has caused frustration among other EU countries, Euronews reported, citing four diplomats. One diplomat said the move appeared to be motivated mainly by economic considerations, particularly as Europe faces growing hybrid threats from Russia.

The sanctions regime, which covers more than 3,000 individuals and entities linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its military-industrial complex, is due for renewal on 15 September.

France has presented Usmanov’s removal as a political compromise that could help break the deadlock while allowing the wider sanctions regime to be renewed. Paris continues to support extending the sanctions as a whole.

EU ambassadors are due to meet again on Monday.

(max)