---
title: "Estonia Imposes National Sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman After Their 'Release' by the EU"
description: "Estonia imposed national sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman after the EU, under pressure from France, lifted the restrictions on them. On September 24, Lithuania announced the freezing of their assets and their inclusion in the list of unwanted persons."
date: 2026-09-24T12:04:01.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/estonia-national-sanctions-usmanov-friedman
tags: [estonia, sanctions, usmanov, fridman, eu, france, lithuania, russia-ukraine-war]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Estonia Imposes National Sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman After Their 'Release' by the EU

![Mikhail Fridman against a corporate banner backdrop — one of the targets of Estonia's national sanctions](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/24/estoniya-nacionalnye-sankcii-usmanov-fridman/estoniya-nacionalnye-sankcii-usmanov-fridman-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Estonia imposed national sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman after the restrictions on them were lifted at the EU level
- Estonia's Foreign Minister Tsahkna stated that Tallinn did not support the removal of the oligarchs from sanctions but was forced to vote in favor of the decision under pressure from France
- On September 24, Lithuania proposed adding both to the national list of unwanted persons and freezing their assets
- France has not provided explanations to its EU allies for the reasons behind the lifting of sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman

The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has introduced national sanctions against Russian businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman. This was announced by the head of Estonia's Foreign Ministry, Margus Tsahkna, whose words were published on the ministry's official website. The decision comes against the backdrop of the European Union, under pressure from France, having previously lifted anti-Russian restrictions on both oligarchs, which triggered a sharp reaction in Tallinn. According to Tsahkna, in a situation where Russia "shows no slightest willingness to end the war," Estonia has no grounds for easing sanctions pressure, and Usmanov and Fridman, in Tallinn's assessment, continue to support the aggression against Ukraine and facilitate its continuation.

### Voting Against Their Will: Tallinn's Political U-Turn

Tsahkna openly acknowledged that Estonia "did not consider it right and did not support" the removal of the two Russian businessmen from EU sanctions, yet formally voted in favor of this decision. The diplomat explained that on the eve of the adoption of the European sanctions package, Tallinn, like most other EU members, was under pressure from France, which lobbied for the lifting of sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman. It was precisely this, according to the minister, that compelled Estonia to support the vote, even though the country's position in substance remained unchanged. As a result, Tallinn resorted to the instrument of national sanctions to compensate for what it failed to block at the EU level.

### The French Factor: Allies Await Explanations

Tsahkna placed particular emphasis on the role of Paris in the adoption of the controversial decision. According to him, Estonia's EU allies "have not yet received explanations from France" as to why precisely these two names were removed from the sanctions list. "They need to explain what they are doing. No in-depth explanations have been given," lamented the head of Estonia's Foreign Ministry. This statement effectively publicly accuses France of a unilateral decision taken without sufficient argumentation and to the detriment of the bloc's overall sanctions policy.

### Lithuania Follows Estonia's Example: Asset Freeze and Unwanted Persons List

On September 24, it was reported that the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposed adding Usmanov and Fridman to the national list of unwanted persons. The head of Lithuania's diplomatic mission, Kestutis Budrys, officially requested the country's Ministry of the Interior to take the corresponding action. In addition, Budrys confirmed that he is preparing legal acts that will freeze the funds and economic resources of both oligarchs on Lithuanian territory. Thus, two Baltic states have effectively synchronized their actions, creating a national framework of restrictions that complements (and in this case — compensates for) the gap left after the EU's decision.

### Sanctions Fatigue in the EU: Systemic Context

The decision by Estonia and Lithuania fits into a broader context that Ukrainian and European media had previously noted: a so-called "certain fatigue" with the strengthening of anti-Russian sanctions is growing within the EU. Some capitals are showing readiness for a partial easing of restrictions, which is causing irritation among the countries directly affected by the war. The introduction of national sanctions by the Baltic states can be seen as a response to this trend — an attempt to maintain pressure on specific individuals, even if the Europe-wide consensus on them has already been lost.

### Contradictory Data

The statements by Estonia's Foreign Ministry contain an internal contradiction that deserves attention. On the one hand, Tsahkna claims that Estonia "did not support" the lifting of sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman. On the other hand, it was precisely Estonia's vote (alongside most other EU members) that formally ensured the adoption of this decision at the EU level. In other words, a country claiming its opposition effectively facilitated the implementation of a decision against which it then protested through national sanctions. France, in turn, according to Tsahkna, did not provide "in-depth explanations" for its lobbying, leaving the question open: was the lifting of sanctions on these two specific individuals the result of a political deal that was not disclosed publicly, or the consequence of some other logic that Paris is not ready to voice?

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Estonia Makes a Sharp U-Turn After the Lifting of Sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/estoniya-zrobila-rizkiy-rozvorot-pislya-znyattya-1790251319.html) - Подтверждает заявление Цахкна, роль Франции, введение национальных санкций и отсутствие объяснений от Парижа.
- [Estonia Imposes National Sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman](https://censor.net/ru/news/4025098/estoniya-vvela-sanktsii-protiv-usmanova-i-fridmana) - Подтверждает факт введения национальных санкций и цитирует МИД Эстонии.
- [After the EU Decision, Estonia Introduces Sanctions Against Usmanov and Fridman](https://ua.news/ru/world/pislia-rishennia-es-estoniia-zaprovadzhuie-sanktsiyi-proti-usmanova-ta-fridmana) - Подтверждает хронологию: сначала решение ЕС, затем национальные санкции Эстонии.
- [Estonia Imposes Sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman](https://korrespondent.net/world/4914555-estonyia-vvela-sanktsyy-protyv-usmanova-y-frydmana) - Подтверждает факт и ключевые цитаты Цахкна.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Why did Estonia impose national sanctions if the EU lifted the restrictions on Usmanov and Fridman?
**A:** Tallinn believes that Russia shows no willingness to end the war, and that Usmanov and Fridman continue to support the aggression against Ukraine. Since the sanctions were lifted at the EU level under pressure from France, Estonia resorted to the instrument of national restrictions to maintain pressure on these individuals.

### Q: What role did France play in the lifting of sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman?
**A:** According to Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, France lobbied for the lifting of sanctions on both oligarchs and exerted pressure on the majority of EU members, including Estonia, which ultimately voted in favor of the decision. At the same time, according to Tsahkna, Paris did not provide its allies with "in-depth explanations" for its position.

### Q: What is Lithuania doing regarding Usmanov and Fridman?
**A:** On September 24, Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys proposed adding both to the national list of unwanted persons and confirmed that he is preparing legal acts to freeze their funds and economic resources on Lithuanian territory.

### Q: Did Estonia vote in favor of lifting the sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman?
**A:** Yes, formally Estonia voted in favor of the EU decision to lift the sanctions. However, Tsahkna stated that the country "did not consider it right and did not support" this decision and was forced to back it under pressure from France.