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Revealed: The Hungarian government wants to remove these Russian politicians and businessmen from the EU sanctions list
The Hungarian government is once again at odds with Brussels over EU sanctions on Russia, reportedly demanding the removal of several high-profile Russian individuals from the sanctions list. Budapest has threatened to veto the renewal of restrictions unless its requests are met, a move that aligns with previous appeals from Russian oligarchs. With EU sanctions requiring unanimous approval from all 27 member states, Hungary’s stance could disrupt the EU’s efforts to maintain pressure on Moscow.
Hungarian government against EU sanctions
The Hungarian government is reportedly pushing for the removal of certain Russian individuals from the EU sanctions list, aligning with requests previously made by Russian oligarchs. According to Szabad Európa’s Russian-language investigative section, Budapest is prepared to veto the renewal of European sanctions unless these exemptions are granted. An EU official and a diplomatic source at Szabad Európa confirmed Hungary’s demands, though the names of those involved remain undisclosed in public reports.
EU sanctions against Russia, which require unanimous approval for renewal every six months, are divided into economic measures and individual restrictions, including asset freezes and travel bans. The Hungarian government has frequently leveraged these renewal negotiations to negotiate concessions. Hungarian FM Péter Szijjártó writes in a Facebook post:
We do not agree to rush ahead with the extension of the sanctions regime for individuals, we do not agree to pay tens of billions of euros for arms transfers, and when it comes to security guarantees, we do not ask the question of what security guarantees Ukraine needs, but what security guarantees we Hungarians need.
High-profile Russians on the EU sanctions list
The Hungarian government is pushing to exempt several high-profile Russian individuals from the EU sanctions list, including billionaire Alisher Usmanov, his sister Gulbakhor Ismailova, and Alfa-Bank co-founders Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven. Others on the list include Uralchem co-owner Dmitry Mazepin, businessman Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor, oil tycoon Musa Bazhaev, and Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev. These individuals have been sanctioned due to their alleged ties to the Kremlin, financial influence, or support for strategic sectors of the Russian economy. Many have challenged their sanctions in EU courts but remain under restriction.
Veto in Brussels
The Hungarian government has repeatedly used its veto power in Brussels to negotiate concessions, with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán arguing that EU sanctions harm member states more than Russia. The EU, however, insists that maintaining a united front is essential for exerting pressure on Moscow. The sanctions list is reviewed regularly and requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states. Meanwhile, Szabad Európa’s Russian-language investigative section, Szisztema, has reached out to the individuals involved, their representatives, and the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, but received no response at the time of publication.
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The EU wants the killing to continue- the US made it clear they are not going to continue any support-
How is possible that they don’t get it – they look like fools.
Of course Hungary is working to remove Russians from sanctions because Hungary has been bought and paid for by Putin. Hungary is now a Russian ally, an enemy of Europe working day and night to obstruct and divide the EU and NATO.