Permanent representatives of European Union (EU) countries have agreed to extend sanctions against Russia, which cover approximately 3,000 individuals and legal entities, for a period of 3 years, while removing businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the list.
“Elchi” reports, citing “Reuters”, that the agreement was reached after Latvia waived its veto and abstained from the vote.
Previously, sanctions against Russian individuals and legal entities included in the list were extended every six months. The approval of sanction decisions requires the unanimity of all EU countries.
The final decision will be adopted after the written procedure is completed.
Earlier, EU representatives reached a preliminary agreement to remove Usmanov and Fridman from the sanctions list in exchange for extending the remaining restrictions for a period of three years.