The European Union extended personal sanctions against russia for another week

This is reported by Suspilne with reference to the spokesperson for the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

On September 14, EU ambassadors met for the second time to discuss extending the sanctions. The EU’s personal sanctions against russia were to be in effect until September 15. To extend them, unanimous consent of all EU member states is required every six months.

The necessary legal procedures are currently underway for the decision to extend the negotiations to become effective. In parallel, EU countries are continuing consultations, the results of which will be discussed later.

On the afternoon of September 14, ambassadors from the blocʼs states failed to agree on extending sanctions against russia. They include restrictions against more than 3 000 people and companies.

One of the reasons for the disagreement of some countries regarding the extension of sanctions is the presence of russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov on the list. Previously, France and Slovakia demanded his exclusion. Two more countries — Croatia and Italy — supported the exclusion of Usmanov in order to reach a compromise.

It later emerged that France’s unexpected demand to remove russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov from the EU sanctions list was driven by hopes of securing the release of several of its citizens as part of a prisoner exchange with Azerbaijan.

This was reported by the Financial Times, citing three informed sources, according to “European Pravda”.

The reason why Paris has unexpectedly joined Slovakia in calling for Usmanov to be removed from the EU sanctions list is an attempt to organise a prisoner exchange with Azerbaijan – to secure the release of several French citizens. The issue of sanctions against Usmanov has become part of this bargaining.

Officially, France is refraining from commenting on the details.

An unnamed French diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, merely stated that France has its ownspecific reason relating to national security and that Paris “seeks to respond positively to our international partners who have raised the issue of Usmanov”. At the same time, he said that France remains a staunch supporter of maximum sanctions pressure on the russian military machine.

Representatives of other EU member states have privately complained that Paris has not explained its unexpected position.

“Such a move would mean not only rewarding russia, but also rewarding it for the imprisonment of European citizens,” commented an unnamed European diplomat.

Source: Babel, European Pravda