EU court takes Russian billionaires off sanctions list

The funds and economic resources of both men were frozen after the European Council imposed restrictions following the Russian invasion. 

Both are major shareholders of conglomerate Alfa Group, which includes Russia's top private bank Alfa Bank and its biggest food retailer X5 Retail Group.

The court ruled the billionaires should not have been included on the list between February 2022 and March 2023.

An EU decision in March 2023 reimposed the restrictive measures on the two men, who have lodged a separate appeal against that action.

The court said the council might have grounds to establish that Fridman and Aven have close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, but it did not demonstrate the men have supported actions or policies against Ukraine, or that they supported Russian decision makers financially.