The Usmanov Conundrum: A Tale of Sanctions, Blackmail, and Regional Politics The European Union's decision to extend the deadline for renewing Russia sanctions listings by seven days may have seemed like a routine bureaucratic move on Monday.
But beneath the surface, a complex web of interests is at play. France has found itself caught in a delicate dance between its obligations as an EU member state and its own national security concerns.
The case of Russian Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov, whose sanctions have been contested by his lawyers, has become a focal point for this intra EU tension.