France Ties EU Sanctions Relief for Usmanov to Release of Its Citizens Held in Azerbaijan

Paris has refused to approve the renewal of the EU's personal sanctions list until Usmanov is removed, according to the Financial Times, which cited sources. Slovakia has backed the demand, Reuters reported, while most other EU member states oppose it, according to the FT.

Among the French citizens whose release Paris is seeking is businessman Martin Ryan, EUobserver reported. He was sentenced to ten years in prison on espionage charges in the spring.

The personal sanctions against roughly 2,600 individuals and companies added to the list after the start of the war in Ukraine were due to expire on September 15. Renewal requires unanimous approval. On Monday, France and Slovakia refused to endorse a 12-month extension until Usmanov is removed from the list.

As a result, EU ambassadors agreed to extend the restrictions for just one week, until September 22. Without that compromise, all those on the list would have fallen out of the sanctions regime, The Bell noted.

A French diplomat explained France's position to Euronews, describing it as a "separate national security issue" and a desire to "respond positively to international partners who approach us regarding Mr. Usmanov." The French delegation has offered no further explanation. One person familiar with the matter told the FT that France's request was "astonishing."

Luxembourg has signaled that if Usmanov is delisted, it will demand the same for Mikhail Fridman, a co-founder of Alfa Group. As the FT recalled, removals from sanctions lists at the request of individual countries have happened before, sought by Hungary under Viktor Orban and by Slovakia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke out against lifting the sanctions. He said Russian oligarchs, without whom the Putin system is unthinkable, must feel that there is no safe place for them in the world while the war continues. According to Zelensky, Usmanov and Fridman should find the courage to take concrete steps against the war.

Usmanov himself has spent several years seeking the removal of the sanctions and denies closeness to the Kremlin. His representatives say the billionaire has withdrawn from Russian business.

Accounts differ: the outlet Ekho reported that Italy and Croatia, as well as France and Slovakia, are proposing the lifting of sanctions on Usmanov, whereas the FT, Reuters and The Bell named only France and Slovakia as supporters.