France Blocks EU Sanctions Renewal Over Prisoner Swap

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 16, 2026

France is blocking the renewal of EU sanctions against about 3,000 Russia-linked individuals and entities, demanding the removal of oligarch Alisher Usmanov to help secure the release of French-British businessman Martin Ryan, imprisoned in Azerbaijan on espionage charges. This standoff is delaying the sanctions renewal, risking a split in the EU’s unified response to Russian aggression amid tensions over balancing diplomatic negotiations with the sanctions regime.

France is obstructing the renewal of European Union sanctions targeting around 3,000 individuals and entities linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, citing the case of a French-British businessman imprisoned in Azerbaijan as a key factor. French officials in Brussels are demanding the removal of Uzbek-Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov from the sanctions list as part of a broader effort to secure the release of Martin Ryan, 38, who was sentenced in Azerbaijan to ten years in prison on charges of espionage.

The French government has not disclosed specifics about Ryan’s case, citing national security concerns. Ryan was convicted in March for allegedly spying for France’s DGSE intelligence service. Paris, however, denies the espionage allegations, describing Ryan as a casualty of strained relations between France and Azerbaijan.

Diplomatic sources revealed that France is leveraging Usmanov’s case to negotiate Ryan’s release. Usmanov, 73, a prominent oligarch with significant business interests and close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, was among the earliest figures sanctioned by the EU following Russia’s large-scale military offensive in Ukraine in 2022. The EU sanctions impose restrictions on Usmanov due to his connections with Putin and his control of key sectors of the Russian economy.

The dispute has caused frustration among EU member states as the matter delays the scheduled renewal of the sanctions list, which is critical to maintaining a unified European stance against Russian aggression. EU ambassadors agreed on Monday to extend the deadline for renewing the sanctions regime by a week amid concerns that continued French opposition could weaken the bloc’s collective position.

The deadlock reflects the complexities of balancing geopolitical sanctions with individual cases involving detainees abroad, illustrating broader tensions within the EU over how to approach relations with Russia and countries allied to it. While France insists on securing Ryan’s freedom, other EU partners fear the move could undermine sanctions designed to penalize Russia’s leadership and their associates.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.