EU draws backlash after lifting sanctions on Russian billionaires

The European Union faced a growing backlash on Wednesday for lifting sanctions on two Russian billionaires, with some of its members saying the move undermined a pillar of support for Ukraine’s war effort and that it signalled the bloc would ‌bow to blackmail.

Following pressure from France and despite pleas by Ukraine, the EU agreed on Tuesday to end asset freezes and travel bans on Russian-Uzbek metals tycoon Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, co-founder of one of Russia’s biggest conglomerates.

France privately told partners that Azerbaijan was using Usmanov's sanctions case to pressure Paris over two French citizens held there, three diplomats told Reuters.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday pardoned a French national jailed for espionage, a move that Paris said was a "humanitarian gesture".

France’s push to lift sanctions on Usmanov prompted Luxembourg to demand the same treatment for Fridman, who has launched a $16-billion claim against it for freezing his assets.