Overview
- Diplomats said an agreement of principle to delist Alicher Ousmanov and Mikhail Fridman was reached on Monday but Latvia opposed the moves and blocked unanimous confirmation, forcing further talks.
- France asked for Ousmanov’s removal citing reasons of national security, and the Financial Times reported the push may be linked to a prisoner-release effort involving French citizens in Azerbaijan.
- Luxembourg pressed for Fridman’s delisting and Fridman has separately launched arbitration against Luxembourg seeking about €15 billion in damages tied to the sanctions.
- Ukraine’s foreign minister called any removal unacceptable and several EU officials warned delistings would send the wrong signal to Moscow as pressure on Russia is meant to increase.
- Negotiators are discussing extending the renewal cadence from six months to as long as 36 months to limit single-state vetoes, and some outlets later reported the 27 had agreed to the delistings though those reports remain contested.