France backs removing Alisher Usmanov from EU sanctions list

September 12, 2026 at 04:42 PM2 min

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France has supported removing Russian-Uzbek businessman Alisher Usmanov from the EU sanctions list, DW sources said on Friday, September 11. The issue was one reason EU ambassadors failed again to agree on extending restrictions against Russia. Consultations continue, with the next meeting expected on September 14, a day before the current sanctions expire.

Key Facts

France has joined Slovakia in seeking to remove Alisher Usmanov from the EU sanctions list, according to DW sources.
EU ambassadors failed to agree on extending sanctions against Russia on September 11, with the next meeting scheduled for September 14.
Slovakia also demands the removal of Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list, while opposing the EU's proposal to extend the sanctions review period to at least one year.
The current EU sanctions against Russian individuals and entities expire on September 15, 2026.

Sanctions Deadlock

EU ambassadors failed to reach an agreement on extending sanctions against Russia during their meeting on September 11. The main dispute remains Slovakia's demand to remove Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list. France has now taken a similar position regarding Usmanov, according to DW sources in Brussels. The next meeting of ambassadors is expected on September 14, one day before the current sanctions expire.

Extension Proposal

The EU proposed extending the sanctions review period from six months to at least one year. Slovakia opposes this initiative, with Prime Minister Robert Fico demanding the removal of Usmanov and Fridman from the list. Fico is widely considered to hold pro-Russian views.

Usmanov Profile

Alisher Usmanov is a Russian billionaire born in Uzbekistan with investments in metallurgy, mining, telecommunications, and technology. He is considered close to the Kremlin, though Usmanov himself denies this. Roman Abramovich, another Russian businessman, recently lost his third case in the EU court seeking to lift sanctions and obtain compensation.