France Aligns With Slovakia in Bid to Delist Russian Oligarch Usmanov From EU Sanctions

The French government has thrown its support behind Slovakia’s longstanding effort to have Russian-Uzbek businessman Alisher Usmanov removed from the European Union’s sanctions list, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from several other member states, according to four EU diplomats speaking with Euronews.

Slovakia has for years advocated for the delisting of both Usmanov and fellow Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman, arguing they should not remain subject to restrictions targeting individuals closely tied to Vladimir Putin’s government and the military-industrial apparatus fueling the war in Ukraine. Paris has now entered the fray, specifically calling for Usmanov’s removal.

Usmanov, an Uzbek-born billionaire, amassed his wealth through holdings in metals, mining, telecommunications and technology, and is widely regarded in Western capitals as having close ties to the Kremlin — a claim he has repeatedly disputed.

The French position has provoked significant irritation among other EU nations, particularly at a time when European states are grappling with a sharp rise in hybrid threats, including a recent attempted drone strike on Leipzig airport in Germany.

“It raised a lot of questions about the motivation — seems mostly economic reasons at play here. Not a lot of understanding on the side of other member states,” one EU diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the negotiations.

The EU’s current sanctions framework encompasses more than 3,000 individuals and entities linked to Russia’s military-industrial complex and its role in the invasion of Ukraine. The regime is scheduled for renewal on 15 September, with member states under considerable pressure to reach consensus before that deadline.

While individual listings have historically been renewed on a six-month cycle, a shift to 12-month renewals is now being considered. Sectoral sanctions already transitioned from six-month to 12-month cycles in July.

In multiple rounds of discussions among EU ambassadors, Slovakia has opposed the renewal outright, pressing for the delisting of both oligarchs and the retention of the shorter six-month renewal interval.

Bratislava’s position is not new. The Slovak government has repeatedly called for the removal of the two high-profile oligarchs, including during the most recent sanctions extension in March.

Because EU sanctions require unanimous approval for renewal, any single member state can block an extension. Slovakia’s resistance has already been a source of tension, but France’s newfound support for delisting is expected to further complicate deliberations.

Paris reportedly framed its backing of Usmanov’s delisting as a diplomatic gesture, apparently calculating that Slovakia would not — as it did in previous rounds — abandon its twin demands for the removal of both oligarchs.

EU ambassadors are scheduled to reconvene on Monday, with expectations building that a political agreement must be reached ahead of the 15 September cutoff.

A spokesperson for France’s permanent representation to the EU confirmed that Paris supports the renewal of sanctions but declined to elaborate on ongoing discussions, citing the confidentiality of the talks.

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