The decision by the European Union to remove Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions list creates a dangerous precedent that threatens the entire restrictive measures regime, according to a joint statement signed by several European parliamentarians and national lawmakers on Friday, September 25, 2026. The move follows intense negotiations and tactical compromises, sparking sharp rebukes from European legislators and Ukrainian leadership who warn that concessions unrelated to Russian aggression undermine the logic of EU sanctions.
Parliamentary Warning Over Sanctions Efficacy and Concessions
European lawmakers expressed deep concern over the removal of Usmanov and Fridman, emphasizing that both individuals served as primary financial and material mainstays for the Russian regime. For decades, these figures reaped direct benefits from the Kremlin system, fostered destabilization in Ukraine, and propped up the economic base fueling the ongoing war, according to the parliamentary statement. The joint declaration was signed by Saeima European Affairs Committee Chair Evika Siliņa, Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Ināra Mūrniece, Defense, Internal Affairs, and Corruption Prevention Committee Chair Raimonds Bergmanis, and MP Juris Viļums.
Lawmakers stressed that striking individuals from the sanctions list without transparent, individual evaluations based on new evidence raises serious doubts about the credibility and consistency of EU policy. According to the parliamentary text, such a precedent signals to thousands of other listed individuals and third-country supporters that sanctions can be undone through prolonged lobbying or diplomatic pressure. This dynamic risks generating a cascade of removal requests, increasing pressure on individual member states, and weakening the preventive impact of EU restrictive measures overall.
Diplomatic Trade-Offs and National Divergences
Behind the latest sanctions adjustments lie tense diplomatic bargaining sessions among EU member states. According to reporting from Euronews, the European Union agreed to lift sanctions on Usmanov after high-stakes negotiations where France tied his exclusion to a prisoner exchange with Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, Fridman exited the blacklist after Slovakia exercised its veto power against his retention during a vote to renew restrictions on thousands of Russian physical and legal entities for a three-year term.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy harshly criticized these developments on the platform X, labeling the signals of sanctions relief as suicidal and counterproductive while Russian drone and ballistic missile attacks persist across Ukrainian regions. Zelenskyy stated that wars end through resolve and strength rather than leniency toward individuals close to the aggressor, while expressing gratitude to Ursula von der Leyen for her willingness to advance additional listings to secure a just peace.
National Responses and Calls for Coordinated Policy
Amid disagreements at the EU level, the parliamentarians highlighted Latvia’s principled stance and its decision to enforce national-level sanctions against individuals dropped from the broader bloc list, urging other European capitals to follow suit. Lawmakers continue to push for a coordinated, evidence-based, and legally sound sanctions policy that remains in place as long as the underlying conditions of Russian aggression persist.
Did you know? EU member states recently agreed to extend restrictive measures against thousands of Russian individuals and entities for a three-year period, making targeted exemptions like the ones granted to Usmanov and Fridman exceptions that drew intense scrutiny from regional lawmakers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman removed from the EU sanctions list?
EU member states removed Usmanov and Fridman following intense negotiations that involved diplomatic trade-offs, including prisoner exchange linkages raised by France and a veto cast by Slovakia, according to diplomatic sources cited by Euronews.
How have lawmakers reacted to the sanctions exemptions?
Lawmakers from Latvia and the European Parliament signed a joint statement warning that the exemptions set a dangerous precedent, undermine the logic of EU sanctions, and invite further lobbying pressure from individuals tied to the Kremlin.
What position has Ukraine taken on the sanctions adjustments?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the decision to lift restrictions on specific oligarchs as counterproductive and suicidal while Russian attacks continue, arguing that conflicts require strength and resolve rather than leniency.
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