- Latvia fiercely opposed the move to remove two oligarchs from the EU's blacklist hours before a looming deadline on the sanctions' renewal, but finally allowed both men to be delisted to avoid torpedoing the entire deal, which was needed to renew sanctions on some 2,600 individuals.
- Prime Minister Kulbergs said he had eventually dropped his opposition because 'we all understood it is not worth risking' the whole EU sanctions package.
- Kulbergs cautioned, 'I worried about the playbook which it leaves,' adding: 'This is normalising Russia.'
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has expressed deep concern over the EU's decision to lift sanctions on oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, stating it 'normalises Russia.' The move, which came after intense lobbying from France and Slovakia, has sparked outrage in Kyiv.23
Kulbergs criticized the EU for 'cherry-picking' sanctions, emphasizing that the decision undermines the EU's collective stance against Russian aggression. He noted, 'I’m worried about the playbook which it leaves,' highlighting the potential long-term implications of such actions.
Despite Latvia's fierce opposition, the Baltic nation ultimately agreed to the delisting to prevent jeopardizing the renewal of sanctions on approximately 2,600 individuals. Kulbergs remarked, 'we all understood it is not worth risking' the entire sanctions package, indicating the pressure faced by smaller EU nations in the face of larger member states' interests.1
This controversial decision has raised alarms in Kyiv, where officials fear it could embolden Russia amid ongoing tensions. The EU's approach has been criticized for lacking consistency, as it navigates complex geopolitical dynamics while attempting to maintain unity among its members.
The lifting of sanctions on these oligarchs is seen as a significant setback for efforts to hold Russia accountable for its actions, with many calling for a reassessment of the EU's strategy towards Moscow.
“Latvia fiercely opposed the delisting hours before the sanctions' renewal deadline, but allowed it to avoid torpedoing the deal that renewed sanctions on some 2,600 individuals. Kulbergs said he dropped his opposition because 'we all understood it is not worth risking' the whole package.”
Euronews.com
