EU sanctions under threat: Latvia opposes lifting restrictions on Usmanov and Fridman
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This was announced by Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs on the social network H.
According to the official, Riga did not agree with the draft decision because of the proposal to exclude Usmanov and Fridman from the sanctions list.
He noted that the extension of the sanctions requires unanimous support from all 27 EU countries. If the states do not reach an agreement before the end of the current deadline, the extension of restrictions on the entire list, not just on the two Russian businessmen, will be at risk.
Kulbergs said that extending the sanctions for another 36 months would be the right decision. At the same time, he said, it should not come at the cost of excluding Usmanov and Fridman.
“Latvia cannot agree to such a proposal,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
He also announced that on September 22, together with Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, he will work with Brussels and Paris to find a solution that meets Latvia’s position.
In addition, Kulbergs called an emergency meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers for September 23 to discuss this issue.
The next meeting of EU ambassadors is scheduled to begin on September 22 at 9:00 a.m. Kyiv time.
The EU sanctions regime against individuals and organizations that threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine began to be formed in 2014. After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, representatives of the Russian leadership, including Vladimir Putin, as well as a number of major businessmen, were added to the list. The list also includes former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
It was previously reported that EU ambassadors had tentatively agreed to remove Russian businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list. However, the final decision has not yet been made and could be blocked by any EU member state.
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