France blocks E.U. sanctions on Russia in push to spare oligarch Usmanov
Washington Post
Washington Post
Original Source
France is pushing the European Union to lift sanctions on Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov, whom the EU described as "one of Vladimir Putin's favorite oligarchs," in an effort to secure the release of French citizens detained in Azerbaijan. The French position marks a rare division within the EU's united sanctions policy against Moscow since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
France pushes to end sanctions on Alisher Usmanov, oligarch tied to Putin - The Washington Post
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France blocks E.U. sanctions on Russia in push to spare oligarch Usmanov
The French request would lift E.U. sanctions on Alisher Usmanov, whom the E.U referred to as “one of Vladimir Putin’s favorite oligarchs,” in a bid to free French citizens held in Azerbaijan.
September 22, 2026 at 9:35 a.m. EDTToday at 9:35 a.m. EDT
9 min
*Billionaire Alisher Usmanov, pictured in 2017, has been fighting E.U. and U.S. sanctions against him for several years. (Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters)*
By Ellen Francis
,
Beatriz Ríos
and
Catherine Belton
BRUSSELS — France is pushing the European Union to lift sanctions on Alisher Usmanov, a Russian-Uzbek billionaire who was referred to as “one of Vladimir Putin’s favorite oligarchs” by the E.U. when it put him under restrictive measures just after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
---
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France blocks E.U. sanctions on Russia in push to spare oligarch Usmanov
The French request would lift E.U. sanctions on Alisher Usmanov, whom the E.U referred to as “one of Vladimir Putin’s favorite oligarchs,” in a bid to free French citizens held in Azerbaijan.
September 22, 2026 at 9:35 a.m. EDTToday at 9:35 a.m. EDT
9 min
*Billionaire Alisher Usmanov, pictured in 2017, has been fighting E.U. and U.S. sanctions against him for several years. (Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters)*
By Ellen Francis
,
Beatriz Ríos
and
Catherine Belton
BRUSSELS — France is pushing the European Union to lift sanctions on Alisher Usmanov, a Russian-Uzbek billionaire who was referred to as “one of Vladimir Putin’s favorite oligarchs” by the E.U. when it put him under restrictive measures just after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
---
* Dan Diamond Trump officials plan to cut hundreds of thousands from ACA, claiming fraud 41 minutes ago
* Kathleen Felton Should you get a covid vaccine this fall? Here’s what to know. Earlier today
* Theodoric Meyer and Natalie Allison Republicans start making moves to challenge JD Vance for 2028 nomination Earlier today
* Dan Diamond , Liam Scott and Dan Lamothe Trump’s plan to militarize proposed arch raises new legal, safety concerns September 21, 2026
* Travis Andrews We got a sneak peek at fall’s best movies. Here are 8 worth seeing. September 21, 2026
* Opinion Robert Gebelhoff I attended an anti-vaccine conference. The joke ended quickly. Earlier today
NewsletterAs news breaks
World News Alerts
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Tags:#فرنسا#الاتحاد الأوروبي#العقوبات#روسيا#أوسمانوف#أذربيجان
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