EU extends sanctions on Russia for three years and removes two Russian businessmen from the list
Brussels, 22 Sep (KUNA) -- The European Union (EU) announced on Tuesday that it has extended sanctions against Russia for an additional three years, while removing Russian businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list as part of a review of restrictive measures imposed on individuals and entities accused of undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence.
The EU Council stated in a statement that the current restrictive measures cover more than 3,000 individuals and entities and include travel bans, asset freezes, and prohibitions on making funds or economic resources available to those listed.
The Council added that, as part of the sanctions review, it decided not to renew the listing of three individuals and one entity, while also removing the names of three deceased individuals from the list.
EU ambassadors reached a compromise whereby Usmanov and Fridman were removed from the sanctions list in exchange for extending the restrictive measures against the remaining individuals and entities for three years instead of six months.
Latvia abstained from voting on the agreement, allowing it to pass, with formal approval subsequently granted through a written procedure.
The EU imposed sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman in 2022 following the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war. These sanctions include bans on transactions and travel within the EU, as well as the freezing of assets located within the bloc.
The Council confirmed that the EU has significantly expanded its sanctions against Russia since February 2022 with the aim of weakening its capacity to continue the war by reducing its economic base and energy revenues, depriving it of critical technologies and markets, and targeting its military-industrial complex.
It emphasized its continued provision of political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people in coordination with partners and allies, reaffirming the EU's determination to increase pressure on Russia and weaken its war economy to compel it to end its aggressive war and engage in serious peace negotiations.
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