Latvia blocks EU plan to lift sanctions on Alisher Usmanov

Latvia opposed a French-driven compromise that aimed to remove Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the European Union sanctions list while extending the overall regime for 36 months. France had tied the delisting to the freedom of two French nationals imprisoned in Azerbaijan, a condition that angered several member states. Slovakia also supported the removal for separate reasons, but Latvia remained the sole dissenting voice, citing the need for continued pressure on Russia.

Ireland, holding the EU Council presidency, proposed the compromise to break a week-long stalemate, and most diplomats admitted the deal was hard to accept. Ukrainian officials publicly condemned the plan, and Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said an emergency cabinet meeting would be convened to discuss a “suitable solution for Latvia’s interests.” The sanctions, imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, affect about 2,600 individuals, including President Vladimir Putin, and must be renewed soon or risk lapsing.