The European Union has agreed to remove Russian oligarchs Alisjer Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions lists following targeted pressure from France, Slovakia, and Luxembourg, prompting harsh criticism from Ukrainian officials.
EU Agreement and Diplomatic Pressures
France specifically demanded the removal of Usmanov as part of a prisoner exchange arrangement involving Azerbaijan. While the measure shifts the EU’s restrictive posture toward certain high-profile Russian figures, it has exposed deep fractures among member states regarding how to manage sanctions enforcement.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha condemned the move, characterizing the EU’s sanctions relief as shameful and unjustified. According to Sybiha, Moscow is celebrating the decision because it secures what the Kremlin wanted: impunity, the humiliation of the EU, and division among European nations.
Reactions and Policy Implications in Norway
The decision has triggered domestic debate in countries outside the EU, including Norway. Nettavisen questioned the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding whether Oslo will follow the EU’s latest step and strike Usmanov and Fridman from its own national sanctions list. Meanwhile, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia have announced plans to sanction the two oligarchs independently.
Ane Lunde, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Norway stands alongside its European partners in sanctions policy and has continuously aligned with EU sanction packages since 2022 to maintain predictable conditions for Norwegian actors. However, the ministry did not explicitly clarify whether Usmanov and Fridman would be formally removed from Norway’s lists.
Eirik Bergesen, a political commentator, podcast host, and former Norwegian diplomat who previously worked with EU sanctions in Brussels, noted that Norway’s status outside the EU generally results in a direct copy of Brussels’ line. Bergesen argues that while a 2021 sanctions law allows Norway to implement EU measures quickly, Oslo risks appearing merely as a copy machine rather than making independent assessments.
Political Opposition and Domestic Criticism
In the Norwegian parliament, the Green Party (MDG) criticized the government’s approach to alignment with EU policies. Julie Stuestøl, representing the MDG in the parliamentary committee on scrutiny and constitutional affairs, argued that sanctions against Russia must be strengthened rather than weakened.
Stuestøl emphasized that Norway should not rely on the minimum level of EU sanctions and pointed out that Norway remains the only European nation allowing Russian ships—such as those operating in Kirkenes, Tromsø, and Båtsfjord—to deliver fish. She urged the Norwegian government to take a proactive stance rather than simply follow Brussels.
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