# Anti-Corruption Foundation’s Leonid Volkov criticizes lifting sanctions on Mikhail Fridman. Four years ago, he proposed lifting them himself.

https://mins.news/en/item/69442

- Meduza, 2026-09-22 18:44 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/09/22/anti-corruption-foundation-s-leonid-volkov-criticizes-lifting-sanctions-on-billionaire-mikhail-fridman-four-years-ago-he-proposed-lifting-them-himself

> Anti-Corruption Foundation political projects chief Leonid Volkov called the EU’s removal of sanctions on Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman “shameful” and a “terrible precedent.” He said Fridman secured relief without public action against Putin’s regime, although Volkov had argued four years ago for clear conditions such as condemning the war and aiding Ukraine. FBK leader Yulia Navalnaya endorsed his criticism.

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## Related coverage

- [Estonia says France must explain push to lift EU sanctions on Usmanov](https://mins.news/en/item/69709) — Reuters, 2026-09-22
- [EU drops sanctions on Russian oligarchs Usmanov and Fridman](https://mins.news/en/item/69530) — DW, 2026-09-22
- [EU renews Russia sanctions but removes Usmanov at France’s request](https://mins.news/en/video/69346) — euronews, 2026-09-22
- [Who are Usmanov and Fridman, the Russian oligarchs France helped remove from the EU sanctions list?](https://mins.news/en/item/69299) — The Kyiv Independent, 2026-09-22
