EU to lift sanctions slapped on two Russians, one Slovak over Ukraine war, diplomats say

According to two diplomatic sources, the European Union is planning to remove sanctions against two Russian businessmen and one Slovak national, but will not be doing so for billionaire Alisher Usmanov.

The EU had imposed asset freezes and travel bans on around 2,000 individuals and companies who were believed to be involved in or benefiting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which marks its two-year anniversary on Saturday.

Some of these restrictions are set to expire on March 15, and the EU’s 27 member countries have agreed to extend most of them, except for the sanctions against Arkady Volozh, Sergey Mndoiants, and Jozef Hambalek.

Volozh, one of the individuals, is a co-founder of the Russian internet company Yandex. According to sources, the case against him has weakened since he spoke out against Moscow’s war in Ukraine last summer.

Mndoiants, another individual, previously held a position in government relations at the Russian conglomerate Sistema and is also a board member at a Russian think-tank that advises the Kremlin on foreign and defense policy.

Hambalek, the Slovak national, is the head of the Russian nationalist Night Wolves motorcycle club in Europe and has been accused of training bikers for combat in Ukraine and spreading pro-Russian propaganda.

One of the diplomatic sources stated that the decision to remove the three listings was based on legal considerations, including a change in Volozh’s behavior.

Additionally, Hungary pushed to lift sanctions against Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, but this was not supported as he had lost his sanctions appeal at the EU’s top court earlier in the month. Hungary also sought to delist Russian former Formula One driver Nikita Mazepin and Vyacheslav Kantor, the beneficial owner of Russian fertilizer producer Acron, but evidence against them was deemed strong.

The changes will come into effect before March 15, allowing EU governments to immediately release any frozen assets of Volozh, Mndoiants, and Hambalek. The EU is also set to announce a new package of sanctions against Russia on Friday, targeting nearly 200 entities and individuals involved in aiding Moscow’s procurement of weapons or in the kidnapping of Ukrainian children.

(Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; editing by Mark Heinrich)