The European Union agreed on Friday to extend sanctions against Russian individuals and entities, rejecting Hungary’s efforts to remove Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman from the list, EU diplomats said.
Sanctions, which must be renewed every six months by unanimous vote, were extended until September 15 following a deadline on Saturday.
Hungary, which has maintained close ties with Moscow despite the Ukraine war, had initially sought to remove nine names, including Fridman’s.
However, EU diplomats said negotiations reduced that number to three: Gulbakhor Ismailova, sister of businessman Alisher Usmanov; businessman Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor; and Russian sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev.
A fourth individual, businessman Vladimir Rashevsky, was delisted due to a weak legal case rather than political pressure.
Three others were removed from the list posthumously.
The EU’s sanctions list currently includes over 2,400 individuals and entities linked to Russia.
Hungary, which has maintained close ties with Moscow despite the Ukraine war, had initially sought to remove nine names, including Fridman’s.
However, EU diplomats said negotiations reduced that number to three: Gulbakhor Ismailova, sister of businessman Alisher Usmanov; businessman Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor; and Russian sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev.
A fourth individual, businessman Vladimir Rashevsky, was delisted due to a weak legal case rather than political pressure.
Three others were removed from the list posthumously.
The EU’s sanctions list currently includes over 2,400 individuals and entities linked to Russia.
More In Politics MORE...
