Latvia’s prime minister says Latvia cannot accept a proposal that would lift European Union sanctions on Russia-linked billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman. The deal would remove sanctions for those two individuals while leaving in place sanctions on a much larger group of other Russia-linked individuals and entities, according to the reports.

The proposal is framed as a trade-off: sanctions targeting Usmanov and Fridman would be lifted, but sanctions on thousands of others would continue. Cyprus Mail reports that the remaining list includes about 3,000 other Russia-linked individuals and businesses. Daily Maverick presents the same core position and description of the proposed arrangement, emphasizing Latvia’s refusal to support it.

While both outlets focus on Latvia’s stance, they provide slightly different detail. Cyprus Mail includes the approximate scale of the remaining sanctioned population; Daily Maverick largely reiterates the opposition without additional figures. Both agree on the central elements: the proposed sanctions change, the two named billionaires, and Latvia’s objection to the terms.