France has refused to disclose the international partners who demanded the removal of Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov from European Union sanctions lists. The diplomatic standoff has blocked the bloc from renewing personal sanctions against Moscow, leaving existing restrictions temporarily extended only until September 22.
A routine renewal of European Union sanctions against Russia hit a roadblock after France and Slovakia pushed to remove Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov from the penalty roster. The sudden diplomatic maneuver caught fellow member states off guard and triggered strong frustration across the bloc.
Because member states could not reach a unanimous agreement in time, the EU could not formally approve the next round of personal restrictions. Authorities had to enact a temporary seven-day extension of the existing measures to prevent a total lapse in the sanctions regime.
Paris Defends National Security Stance While Withholding Partner Details
During a press briefing on Thursday, September 17, French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux addressed the mounting questions surrounding the sanctions exemption. He maintained that Paris acted in response to outside promptings concerning sensitive state interests.
International partners raised an issue related to national security, and we agreed to examine it. That is the stage we are currently at. Pascal Confavreux, Spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
When reporters pressed the ministry to identify the specific foreign governments involved or to clarify whether the diplomatic push connected to relations with Azerbaijan, Confavreux drew a hard line. He insisted that internal Council of the European Union deliberations must remain confidential technical matters.
Since this is a national security issue, I cannot provide more details. Furthermore, internal discussions within the Council of the European Union should not be made public or commented on. These are technical issues, and they must remain as such. Pascal Confavreux, Spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Despite the resistance from other member states who viewed the exemption demand with widespread disappointment, the spokesperson asserted that France remains fully committed to economic pressure against Moscow.
No one can doubt France’s commitment to sanctions policy, the continuation of sanctions, and ensuring their real impact on the Russian economy, which supports the war against Ukraine. Pascal Confavreux, Spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Detentions in Baku Cast Shadow Over European Negotiations
Diplomatic sources close to the French foreign ministry suggest the unusual push to shield Usmanov is tied to ongoing efforts to secure the release of French nationals detained in Azerbaijan. Officials in Paris confirmed that the government is actively working with authorities in Baku on the matter, though they declined to release names or specific prisoner counts.
Among the French citizens known to be held by Azerbaijani authorities are entrepreneur Martin Ryan and Anas Derraz, an employee of the French company Saur. In response to the detentions, the ministry maintains an active travel warning.
Paris strongly advises its citizens against traveling to Azerbaijan, citing documented instances of arbitrary detentions that pose direct risks to foreign visitors.
Tensions and the Upcoming September 22 Deadline
The temporary seven-day extension places pressure on European diplomats to resolve the impasse before the new cutoff arrives. While a majority of EU member states oppose carving out exemptions for targeted oligarchs, the intersection of national security claims and consular negotiations has complicated the standard renewal process.
With the temporary deadline set for September 22, ambassadors must navigate both the broader coalition against Russian economic influence and the bilateral pressures driving individual member states to secure the release of citizens held abroad.