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French seeks lifting of EU sanctions on billionaire after pressure by Azerbaijan, diplomats say
By John Irish PARIS, Sept 15 (Reuters) - France has been urging the EU to lift sanctions on Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov after coming under what it says is pressure from Azerbaijan as
PARIS, Sept 15 (Reuters) – France has been urging the EU to lift sanctions on Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov after coming under what it says is pressure from Azerbaijan as Baku holds two French nationals, three European diplomats familiar with the matter said.
European Union envoys extended the deadline for renewing Russia sanctions listings by seven days on Monday after failing to agree on a six-monthly rollover of the sanctions, which requires the unanimous approval of the 27 member states.
EU diplomats said France had joined Slovakia in calling for the lifting of sanctions imposed on Usmanov after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The metals and mining mogul has launched multiple lawsuits in Europe with the ultimate goal of having the sanctions lifted, and his lawyers have contested statements in the media that were used as grounds for the sanctions.
