EU member states removed Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the bloc’s Russia sanctions list while extending restrictions on about 2,600 other individuals and entities for three years. One day later, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pardoned French national Martin Ryan, who had been serving a 10-year sentence after a March espionage conviction, although his release was not immediately confirmed. Three European diplomats said Paris believed Baku was using Usmanov’s case to pressure France over two detained French citizens; Azerbaijan rejected the allegation. Anass Derraz, sentenced to 12 years in 2025 on corruption charges, was not pardoned. Ukraine condemned the delistings, while Latvia said it would impose national sanctions on both men.