Budapest wants to get Aliser Uszmanov, Pyotr Aven and Viktor Rasnykov removed from the visa ban and asset freeze list again
– several diplomatic sources familiar with the matter, who are not authorized to speak, told the newspaper on Tuesday. Hungary last attempted to do so in September, but quickly backed down due to political pressure.
The sanctions list must be unanimously approved by the EU member states in order to extend its validity on March 15. The paper knows Hungary Uszmanov his sister Gulbahor Iszmailovát also want to remove it from the list; such as Aven’s business partner, Mikhail Fridman; Belarusian-Russian oligarch Dmitry Mazepin and his son Nikita Mazepin; and Russian oligarchs Grigory Berezkin and Vyacheslav Mose Kantor.
The EU’s official newspaper calls Usmanov a “pro-Kremlin oligarch” with particularly close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has been described as “one of Putin’s favorite oligarchs” and is seen as the Russian president’s business manager.
The sanctions have already resulted in the seizure of a $600 million yacht – the world’s largest – linked to Usmanov, who unsuccessfully challenged the measures at the European Court of Justice. Ismailova was also sanctioned after investigations revealed that Usmanov had indirectly transferred his assets to her.
According to the EU Aven “is one of about 50 wealthy Russian businessmen who regularly meet with Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. He is not independent of the president’s demands”.
Meanwhile Rasnyikov in March, he was added to the list and Brussels called him a “leading Russian oligarch”, who is the owner and chairman of the board of the Magnyitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK). MMK is one of the largest taxpayers in Russia.
Mazepinwho is the owner and CEO of mineral fertilizer plant Uralchem, is “a member of Vladimir Putin’s inner circle” and “one of the leading businessmen involved in economic sectors that provide a significant source of income for the Russian government,” according to the EU.
Nikita Mazepin he was a member of the Haas Formula 1 team and was added to the European Union’s sanctions list in March due to his close relationship with his father.
It was sanctioned in April Vyacheslav Mose Kantor heads the Acron Group – one of Russia’s largest fertilizer companies. According to Brussels, Kantor “has openly expressed his support and friendship for President Putin on numerous occasions and maintains good relations with the Kremlin.”
In particular was also sanctioned in March, and the EU’s official newspaper referred to him as “a leading Russian businessman and a henchman of President Vladimir Putin”, reports Szabad Európa.
Cover image source: Getty Images
