EU removes Alisher Usmanov's sister from sanctions list  

European Union member states are nearing an agreement to extend sanctions against more than 2,000 Russian individuals for another six months. Initially, Hungary demanded the removal of eight people, including businessmen Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov, from the sanctions list. However, Hungary succeeded in having three individuals removed. This was reported by Bloomberg.  

According to sources within EU diplomatic circles, the following individuals are expected to be removed from the sanctions list:  

Vyacheslav Moshe Kantor, a businessman and former head of the European Jewish Congress, has been under EU sanctions since April 8, 2022. He is described as a "Russian oligarch with close ties to Vladimir Putin."  

Gulbahor Ismailova, the sister of Alisher Usmanov, was sanctioned on April 8, 2022, due to allegations that she owns some of his assets abroad.  

Mikhail Degtyarev, the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation, was placed under EU sanctions on July 25, 2014. At that time, he was a State Duma deputy, openly supported the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, and announced the opening of its embassy in Moscow.  

These sanctions were imposed as part of the EU’s response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. An official decision on their removal is expected in the coming days.  

In September 2022, the European Union had also removed another sister of Alisher Usmanov, Saodat Narziyeva, from the sanctions list.  

Earlier, Budapest had threatened to veto the extension of European sanctions against Russia if eight Russians, including Alisher Usmanov and Gulbahor Ismailova, were not removed from the list.