France seeks to remove Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov from the European Union sanctions list in an apparent exchange with Azerbaijan. The goal is to secure the release of French citizens currently detained in the country.
The information comes at a time when Paris is seeking to resolve the situation of its nationals imprisoned in Azerbaijan, resorting to diplomatic negotiations that include significant concessions.
Usmanov, an oligarch close to the Kremlin, was sanctioned by the European Union after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. His name has been associated with business interests in various sectors, including mining and technology.
French authorities have not officially commented on these conversations, but sources close to the dossier indicate that the release of the detainees remains Paris's main priority in its relations with Azerbaijan.
