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1. 2 yesterday 2:14 PM

   Fridman was surprised by delisting, had largely given up hope

   According to Bloomberg sources, Mikhail Fridman had "all but lost hope" of sanctions relief despite court victories and was surprised by the EU's decision. He is characterized as an "almost incidental beneficiary" of Usmanov's personal networks with leaders of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

   “Moscow is celebrating because it got what it wanted: a sense of impunity, the humiliation of the EU, and division among Europeans.”

   1. 1 outlet Bloomberg: EU sanctions relief ‘surprises’ Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman

      first by Meduza EN, 12h ago

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     Mikhail Fridman had "all but lost hope" of sanctions relief and was surprised the bloc removed him and Alisher Usmanov, Bloomberg reports. The outlet described Fridman as an "almost incidental beneficiary" of Usmanov's efforts. https:// meduza.io/en/news/2026/09/23/b loomberg-eu-sanctions-relief-surprises-russian-billionaire-mikhail-fridman

     meduza_en@masto.aiMastodon12h agoview on Mastodon ↗
2. 1 yesterday 10:23 AM

   UK maintains sanctions on both men, criticizes EU move

   UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy he disagreed with the EU's decision to lift sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman, according to people familiar with the matter.

   “Russia is attempting to fracture EU unity, and it is crucial not to let this crack widen and lead to a weakening of the common sanctions policy.”

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     Russian Tycoon’s Personal Networks Helped Beat EU Sanctions https://www. bloomberg.com/news/articles/20 26-09-23/russian-tycoon-s-personal-networks-helped-beat-eu-on-sanctions?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into Ukraine @ ukraine-thenewsdesk

     thenewsdesk@flipboard.comMastodon16h ago2▲view on Mastodon ↗

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     KYIV POST: ‘Lifting Restrictions Must Not Become a Precedent,’ Kyiv Says After Russian Billionaires Delisted https://www. kyivpost.com/post/85230 Ukraine criticized the EU’s decision to remove Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions list, warning it could weaken EU unity. But, Kyiv welcomed the bloc’s three-year…

     ukrdef@mstdn.socialMastodon16h agoview on Mastodon ↗

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3. backgroundYesterday

   Ukraine says delisting sends wrong signal; warns of precedent — Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Zelensky's adviser on sanctions policy, told Kyiv Post the EU decision was "very strange" with no change in circumstances. He warned Russia could exploit divisions within the EU and said lifting restrictions on individual oligarchs must not become a precedent for weakening sanctions.

4. backgroundSep 22

   EU removes Usmanov and Fridman from sanctions list — The Council of the European Union voted to remove both oligarchs from the sanctions list after France, with ties to Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, campaigned for Usmanov's removal and Luxembourg pushed for Fridman's delisting. The move was conditional on a three-year extension of sanctions on the remaining 2,600–3,000 individuals and entities, previously renewed every six months.

5. backgroundSep 14

   EU sanctions list set to expire; divisions emerge over renewal — The EU's Russia sanctions list, covering around 3,000 individuals and entities, was due to expire on September 14–15. Member states were divided over whether to renew sanctions against Usmanov and Fridman, with France and Slovakia wanting them lifted.

6. backgroundJan 1, 2022

   EU imposes sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman after Russian invasion — Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU froze assets of Alisher Usmanov, described as "a pro-Kremlin oligarch with particularly close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin", and Mikhail Fridman, described as "a top Russian financier and enabler of Putin's inner circle".