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PoliticsQuiet 3d · day 4

France lifts Usmanov sanctions to free detained citizens, sparking EU alarm

EU officials fear France's deal to remove Russian oligarch from sanctions list sets a precedent for buying immunity.

newest coverage 3d agosummary written 2d ago3 pieces79 likes & upvotes4 comments Google NewsBluesky

What to know

  • France traded EU sanctions against Russian oligarch Usmanov for Azerbaijan's release of two French citizens detained on espionage charges, revealing the true motive behind its "national security" claim.
  • EU officials fear the move sets a precedent allowing oligarchs to negotiate their way off sanctions through hostage swaps or political pressure.
  • Member states responded by extending existing sanctions on nearly 3,000 people for 36 months and signaling interest in replacing EU unanimity requirements with qualified-majority voting to prevent future vetoes.
  • A major test looms in October when the EU seeks to add more than 1,600 names to the blacklist—the largest expansion in history.

Alisher Usmanov Uzbek-Russian oligarchFrance EU member stateSlovakia EU member stateIreland EU mediatorAzerbaijan Country holding French detainees

France lifts Usmanov sanctions to free detained citizens, sparking EU alarm
pravda.com.ua

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 2 pieces in one hour at Sep 24, 7 AM; 3 pieces over 4 days (1 article · 2 posts) Sep 24, 12 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 24, 1 AM — quietSep 24, 2 AM — quietSep 24, 3 AM — quietSep 24, 4 AM — quietSep 24, 5 AM — quietSep 24, 6 AM — quietSep 24, 7 AM — 2 pieces · 2 posts — Bluesky 2Sep 24, 8 AM — quietSep 24, 9 AM — quietSep 24, 10 AM — quietSep 24, 11 AM — quietSep 24, 12 PM — quietSep 24, 1 PM — quietSep 24, 2 PM — quietSep 24, 3 PM — quietSep 24, 4 PM — quietSep 24, 5 PM — quietSep 24, 6 PM — quietSep 24, 7 PM — quietSep 24, 8 PM — quietSep 24, 9 PM — quietSep 24, 10 PM — quietSep 24, 11 PM — quietSep 25, 12 AM — quietSep 25, 1 AM — quietSep 25, 2 AM — quietSep 25, 3 AM — quietSep 25, 4 AM — quietSep 25, 5 AM — quietSep 25, 6 AM — quietSep 25, 7 AM — quietSep 25, 8 AM — quietSep 25, 9 AM — quietSep 25, 10 AM — quietSep 25, 11 AM — quietSep 25, 12 PM — quietSep 25, 1 PM — quietSep 25, 2 PM — quietSep 25, 3 PM — quietSep 25, 4 PM — quietSep 25, 5 PM — quietSep 25, 6 PM — quietSep 25, 7 PM — quietSep 25, 8 PM — quietSep 25, 9 PM — quietSep 25, 10 PM — quietSep 25, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quietToday, 9 AM — quietToday, 10 AM — quietToday, 11 AM — quietToday, 12 PM — quietToday, 1 PM — quietToday, 2 PM — quietToday, 3 PM — quietToday, 4 PM — quietToday, 5 PM — quietToday, 6 PM — quiet 1
Sep 25yesterdaytodaynow · 7:29 PM ET
  1. background

    EU officials express alarm over precedent; member states extend other sanctions — Officials and diplomats in Brussels expressed concern that the move created a dangerous precedent allowing oligarchs to buy their way out of sanctions. To compensate, member states agreed to extend sanctions against nearly 3,000 people for an unprecedented 36 months and called for reforming unanimity voting requirements.

  2. background

    Azerbaijan releases French detainee Martin Ryan — The day after Usmanov was removed from the sanctions list, Azerbaijan pardoned and released French national Martin Ryan, who had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly spying on behalf of the French government.

  3. background

    EU removes Usmanov and Fridman from sanctions list — The EU formally decided to remove Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions list following France's intervention.

  4. background

    True motive emerges: France sought release of detained citizens — It later emerged that France's "national security" rationale was actually an effort to secure the release of two French citizens detained in Azerbaijan.

  5. 1

    France calls for Usmanov's removal from EU sanctions list

    France shocked EU colleagues by unexpectedly joining Slovakia in demanding Alisher Usmanov be removed from the sanctions list, citing "national security" concerns as justification.

    “The whole affair shows that unanimity hurts everyone, even France. We urgently need to push for a qualified majority in sanctions.”
    — EU source, EU official · source
    • pourlukraine.bsky.social

      La levée des sanctions de l'UE à l'encontre de l'oligarque Usmanov, à la suite des pressions de la France, a laissé un goût amer aux responsables et diplomates de Bruxelles, qui craignent désormais que cela ne crée un dangereux précédent. @nicolastenzer.bsky.social @nathalieloiseau.bsky.social

      pourlukraine.bsky.socialBluesky3d ago26▲view on Bluesky ↗