---
title: "\"Either a very bad situation or just a bad one\": Latvia's PM reveals details of the vote on lifting sanctions against Usmanov and Fridman"
description: "Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs explained why Riga abstained when voting on the lifting of sanctions against Usmanov and Fridman: the country chose between excluding two individuals and 2,600 others. All three Baltic states introduced national restrictions."
date: 2026-09-23T11:26:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/latvia-usmanov-fridman-sanctions-kulbergs-en
tags: [latvia, eu-sanctions, alisher-usmanov, mikhail-fridman, baltic-states, ukraine, andris-kulbergs]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "Either a very bad situation or just a bad one": Latvia's PM reveals details of the vote on lifting sanctions against Usmanov and Fridman

![Prime Minister of Latvia in a suit with a Ukrainian flag pin on his lapel against green foliage — details of the vote on lifting sanctions against Usmanov and Fridman](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/23/latvia-usmanov-fridman-sanctions-kulbergs/latvia-usmanov-fridman-sanctions-kulbergs-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Latvian PM Kulbergs stated that Riga was forced to choose between lifting sanctions against two oligarchs or against 2,600 people in the package
- Latvia abstained from the vote, neither supporting nor blocking the decision to exclude Usmanov and Fridman from the EU sanctions list
- Kulbergs expressed surprise at the position of Lithuania and Estonia, which agreed to the lifting of restrictions
- All three Baltic countries introduced national sanctions against Usmanov and Fridman after their exclusion from the EU list
- Ukraine expressed disagreement with the decision and intends to propose a new approach to sanctions policy to the EU

On September 22, 2026, the European Union officially lifted the sanctions restrictions against Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, including their exclusion in the package extending anti-Russian sanctions for three years. Latvia, which, according to Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, tried to prevent this decision, found itself at the center of a diplomatic scandal. The following day, on September 23, Kulbergs publicly explained for the first time the logic behind Riga's vote, acknowledging that the country was faced with a choice he called "tough." This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the Latvian outlet Delfi.

### "A tough choice": how Latvia found itself in a dilemma

According to the Prime Minister, the question of extending sanctions against Russia was supposed to be resolved in such a way that Riga would not be left "alone with this problem." Kulbergs emphasized that Latvia sought to achieve an outcome in which it would not become the only European country to vote against the exclusion of two oligarchs from the sanctions list. However, in his assessment, this did not happen. "The choice was tough: either a very bad situation or just a bad one," the PM summed up, meaning that Riga was effectively forced to choose between lifting sanctions against two specific individuals or against 2,600 people whose restrictions were also part of the package under discussion. In the end, Latvia abstained from voting against, while also not supporting the decision.

### Baltic split: Riga's surprise at the position of Vilnius and Tallinn

Kulbergs did not hide that he was surprised by the position of Lithuania and Estonia, which agreed to the exclusion of Usmanov and Fridman from the EU sanctions list. The Prime Minister emphasized that the Baltic countries have historically acted in coordination on issues of security and sanctions policy, and therefore this episode needs to be "settled" at both the bilateral and multilateral levels. According to him, during the discussion of the issue in EU structures, Latvia's interests were effectively ignored, which, in Riga's view, is unacceptable for an ally within the bloc.

### National sanctions as a retaliatory step

Against the backdrop of Usmanov and Fridman's exclusion from the European sanctions list, all three Baltic countries — Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia — announced the introduction of national restrictions against both oligarchs. Thus, even despite the lifting of European sanctions, restrictions against Usmanov and Fridman continue to apply at the national level in the Baltic countries themselves. This step, in essence, neutralizes the effect of the repeal on the territory of the three states and demonstrates that Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn do not intend to fully abandon pressure on Russian businessmen linked to the Kremlin.

### Kyiv demands a new approach

The EU's decision to lift sanctions against Usmanov and Fridman triggered a sharp reaction in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha expressed disagreement with this step immediately after the repeal was announced. According to available data, Kyiv intends to propose a new approach to the EU on the issue of pressure on Vladimir Putin's entourage, in order to avoid similar "package" decisions in the future, in which the exclusion of certain individuals becomes a hostage to the extension of restrictions against thousands of others.

### Contradictory data

The formulations used by various sources contain a significant terminological inconsistency. In a number of reports, including the introductory part of RBC-Ukraine's publication, it is stated that Latvia "tried to block" the lifting of sanctions. However, Kulbergs himself clarifies in his comment that the country "did not change its position and did not support the decision," but at the same time "was forced to abstain instead of voting against." In EU diplomatic practice, "blocking" and "abstaining" are fundamentally different actions: the former implies active opposition, the latter — passive disagreement. Thus, Riga's actual behavior during the vote was softer than it is presented in the headlines. Moreover, if in the context of Baltic coordination Kulbergs expresses surprise at the position of Lithuania and Estonia, the subsequent joint introduction of national sanctions by all three countries somewhat blurs the image of a "split" — formally the positions were different at the EU level, but at the national level the Baltic capitals again acted as a united front.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- ["A tough choice": Latvia's PM explains for the first time the decision on Usmanov and Fridman](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zhorstkiy-vibir-prem-er-latviyi-upershe-poyasniv-1790162555.html) - Основной источник цитат Кулбергса. Подтверждает формулировки о «жёстком выборе», 2600 человек, удивлении позицией Литвы и Эстонии, воздержании Латвии.
- [EU extends sanctions against Russia for three years: Usmanov and Fridman excluded from the list](https://gorod.lv/novosti/369425-es-prodlil-sanktsii-protiv-rossii-na-tri-goda-iz-spiska-iskluchili-usmanova-i-fridmana) - Подтверждает факт продления санкций на три года и исключения двух олигархов из перечня. Датирует событие 22 сентября 2026 г.
- [Latvia introduces national sanctions against Usmanov and Fridman after their exclusion from the EU list](https://www.newsru.co.il/world/23sep2026/latvia_127.html) - Подтверждает введение Латвией национальных санкций как ответ на решение ЕС. Датирует 23 сентября 2026 г.
- [Baltic countries introduce sanctions against Usmanov and Fridman](https://www.dw.com/ru/latvia-litva-i-estonia-vvodat-nacionalnye-sankcii-protiv-usmanova-i-fridmana-posle-ih-otmeny-na-urovne-es/a-79385643) - Подтверждает, что все три балтийские страны (Латвия, Литва, Эстония) вводят национальные санкции. Расширяет контекст за пределы одной Латвии.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What exactly happened with the sanctions against Usmanov and Fridman?
**A:** On September 22, 2026, the EU, while extending anti-Russian sanctions for three years, excluded Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list. At the same time, all three Baltic countries — Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia — introduced national sanctions against both, which continue to apply on their territory.

### Q: Why did Latvia not vote against the decision?
**A:** According to PM Kulbergs, Latvia was faced with a choice: either vote against and thereby put the extension of sanctions against 2,600 other individuals at risk, or abstain. Riga chose the latter, not supporting the decision but also not blocking it.

### Q: How did Ukraine react to the lifting of sanctions?
**A:** President Zelensky and Foreign Minister Sybiha immediately expressed disagreement. Kyiv intends to propose a new approach to the EU on sanctions pressure on Putin's entourage, in order to avoid similar "package" decisions in the future.

### Q: What did Kulbergs say about the position of Lithuania and Estonia?
**A:** The Prime Minister of Latvia stated that he was surprised by the agreement of Vilnius and Tallinn to the exclusion of Usmanov and Fridman, since the Baltic countries should act in coordination. He emphasized the need to settle this issue between the Baltic capitals.