# France seeks EU lifting of sanctions on billionaire Usmanov after Azerbaijan pressure, diplomats say

https://mins.news/en/item/61347

- Reuters, 2026-09-16 17:00 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.reuters.com/world/french-seeks-lifting-eu-sanctions-billionaire-after-pressure-by-azerbaijan-2026-09-16/?link_source=ta_bluesky_link&taid=6aaacb1f42d5dc0001472304

> France has been pressing the EU to remove sanctions on Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov, three European diplomats familiar with the matter said. They said the effort followed what France describes as pressure from Azerbaijan, which is holding two French nationals.

## Related coverage

- [France stalls EU renewal of Russia sanctions over oligarch de-listing](https://mins.news/en/item/60017) — France 24, 2026-09-15
- [France seeks Usmanov delisting to secure release of French nationals detained in Azerbaijan](https://mins.news/en/video/59194) — euronews, 2026-09-15
- [France’s support for removing Usmanov from EU sanctions list sparks ‘huge frustration’](https://mins.news/en/item/57057) — Meduza, 2026-09-14