The sanctions must be extended until Thursday next week if they are not to expire. Hungary demands that punitive measures against three Russian oligarchs be lifted.
According to EU diplomats, Hungary is threatening to block the extension of sanctions against Russia. As several officials from the German Press Agency reported on Tuesday, the country wants to use this action to force the punitive measures against three Russian oligarchs to be lifted. Specifically, these are Alisher Usmanov, Pyotr Aven and Viktor Rashnikov.
EU diplomats pointed out that Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban still maintains a very good relationship with Putin and has already torpedoed punitive measures several times in recent months. Because of Hungary’s resistance, the EU had to forego planned sanctions against the Russian Orthodox Church leader, Patriarch Kirill, and a complete oil embargo.
Sanctions expire in a week
The oligarchs Usmanov, Aven and Rashnikov are among more than 1,200 people against whom the European Union has imposed sanctions for supporting Russian President Putin’s Ukraine policy. The punitive measures envisage freezing the assets of those affected and preventing them from entering the EU.
The sanctions must be extended until Thursday next week if they are not to expire. According to diplomats, a decision at EU level should actually be adopted this Wednesday. Further negotiations are now necessary. Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs pointed out that a unanimous decision is needed.
(APA/dpa)