Russian businessmen Usmanov, Fridman removed from EU sanctions list - official journal of EU

BRUSSELS. Sept 22 (Interfax) - Businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman no longer appear on the European Union's sanctions list, a statement in the Official Journal of the EU said on Tuesday evening.

Both are named among the people approved for removal from the list.

Earlier on Tuesday the EU agreed on three-year extensions of the sanctions on approximately 3,000 individuals and entities in Russia, having approved the removal of Fridman and Usmanov from the list.

Euractiv reported earlier, citing sources, that France had asked to lift sanctions on Usmanov, after which Slovakia and Luxembourg made similar requests for Fridman. In return, Paris and Bratislava agreed to extend the validity period of anti-Russian sanctions from six months to three years.