EU Has No Plans to Relist Usmanov and Fridman on Sanctions List

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas stated that the European Union will not soon raise the question of returning Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman to the EU sanctions list. Both men were recently removed from the list under circumstances that drew criticism from Ukraine and transparency advocates.

Kallas made the remarks without elaborating extensively on the reasoning behind the EU's current position, leaving unclear what conditions might lead to a reconsideration of their sanctioned status.

Background: Removal from the Sanctions List

Usmanov, a billionaire with close ties to the Kremlin, and Fridman, co-founder of Alfa Bank, were among the high-profile Russian figures placed under EU sanctions following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Their removal from the list was reported to have occurred under pressure, though the European Commission has not disclosed the specific reasons publicly.

The removal triggered concern among European officials and Ukraine, who viewed keeping oligarchs with Kremlin connections under sanctions as a key tool for pressuring Moscow and cutting off financial resources that might support the war effort.

Kallas's Position

The EU's foreign policy chief's statement effectively closes the door to near-term re-sanctioning of the two individuals. Critics argue that allowing prominent Kremlin-linked oligarchs to escape sanctions sends a problematic signal about the EU's commitment to its stated policy of holding Russia accountable.

The issue reflects broader tensions within the EU about maintaining the integrity and consistency of its Russia sanctions regime, which has faced challenges from legal appeals and political pressures since the onset of the full-scale war.