Hungary threatens to block renewal of EU sanctions on Russia

Hungary’s government is threatening to block the renewal of European Union sanctions against Russia over the war it launched against Ukraine on February 24, diplomatic sources told the German news agency.

Budapest is demanding that the sanctions against three Russian oligarchs be lifted in order to remove this threat, the sources explained.

They are Alisher Usmanov, Piotr Aven and Viktor Rashnikov.

European diplomats pointed out that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán continues to maintain a friendly relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has already vetoed attempts to extend sanctions against Moscow repeatedly in recent months.

In one case the EU was forced to abandon plans to sanction the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, as well as a full embargo on Russian crude oil imports, over Hungarian objections.

Mr. Usmanov, Aven and Rashnikov are among some 1,200 people sanctioned by the EU for supporting President Putin’s war on Ukraine. Their resources in European territory have been frozen and they have been banned from entering.

If the sanctions are not renewed by September 15, they will expire.

The EU had hoped all 27 member states would agree to renew the sanctions on Wednesday, according to diplomats. Unanimity is required on the issue, which means further negotiations are now required.

Messrs. Usmanov and Aven are considered in the EU to be among the oligarchs with the closest ties to Vladimir Putin. The former is said to be President Putin’s window when business problems arise, according to the sanctions decision adopted in Brussels on February 28.

Mr. Usmanov is also well known in Germany because he owns a luxury holiday home on Lake Tegernsee in Bavaria and because he is the former president of the FIE, the World Fencing Federation.

Based on the sanctions decision, Mr. Aven is among about 50 wealthy Russian businessmen who meet regularly with President Putin in the Kremlin. He is said to be a major shareholder of Alfa Group, a group that owns one of the largest Russian banks.

Mr Rashnikov is described in an EU sanctions decision on March 15 as the owner and chairman of the board of Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel. It is said to be active in sectors of the economy that contribute large revenues to the Russian state budget.

Hungarian diplomats in the EU did not explain the reasons for Budapest’s claim.

RES-EMP

Read the News today and get the latest news.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news.