#Fridman

Russian oligarchs are studying the experience of Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, who secured the lifting of EU sanctions, and plan to use lawsuits to challenge restrictions.

Britain refused to follow the EU decision and lift sanctions against Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, reaffirming London's tough stance.

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.

RBK-Ukraine found that Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey lobbied for the lifting of EU sanctions on Usmanov. Kyiv demands national restrictions as an alternative.

The EU excluded Usmanov and Fridman from the sanctions list against the backdrop of the overall extension of restrictions. Ukraine is preparing national sanctions and new packages against defense oligarchs, coordinating actions with EU member states.

The EU has extended sanctions against Russia for three years but removed Usmanov and Fridman from the list. Paris linked the decision to "national security," however, the FT points to a deal with Azerbaijan. The billionaires' assets are being unfrozen.

EU Commissioner Dombrovskis acknowledged EU "fatigue" over sanctions against Russia and called for overcoming it so as not to allow Moscow to win. The statement came after the lifting of restrictions on Usmanov and Friedman.

EU ambassadors in Brussels failed to agree on extending sanctions against Russia: Slovakia demands lifting restrictions on Usmanov and Fridman, while France proposes a compromise on a single name. The regime expires on 15 September.

Head of the OP Budanov urged the EU at the YES 2026 conference not to lift sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman, whom, according to Brussels sources, France and Slovakia are demanding be freed in exchange for extending the restrictions on September 15.