Latvian PM Opposes EU Deal to Lift Sanctions on Russian Billionaires

Latvia rejects EU plan to remove sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman, as talks continue over Russia-linked figures.

September 22, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Brussels, Europe — European Union leaders are in ongoing discussions about a proposal to remove sanctions against two Russian billionaires, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, while maintaining penalties on thousands of others tied to Moscow.

EU diplomats confirmed that ambassadors from the bloc’s 27 member states will reconvene in Brussels on Tuesday to try to finalize an agreement. The proposed deal would lift restrictions on Usmanov and Fridman but extend sanctions on approximately 3,000 individuals and entities linked to Russia.

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Latvia has voiced strong opposition to the plan, arguing it would unfairly benefit high-profile Russian figures at the expense of broader sanctions. Meanwhile, Slovakia and France have pushed for the removal of Usmanov and Fridman from the sanctions list, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticizing the move as inappropriate amid the ongoing conflict.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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