France urged European Union member states to lift sanctions on Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov as part of negotiations over a prisoner release deal with Azerbaijan, according to reports from September 15–16, 2026. Azerbaijan reportedly pressured France to pursue the sanctions lift.
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France is pushing European Union member states to lift sanctions on Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov as part of a prisoner release deal with Azerbaijan, according to people familiar with the matter.
PARIS, Sept 15 - France has been urging the EU to lift sanctions on Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov after coming under what it says is pressure from Azerbaijan as Baku holds two French nationals, three European diplomats familiar with the matter said.
French seeks lifting of EU sanctions on billionaire after pressure by Azerbaijan, diplomats say reuters.com