Martin Ryan
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EU extends Ukraine-related sanctions three years but removes Usmanov and Fridman; Azerbaijan pardons French citizen Ryan
On 22 September 2026, the EU Council extended restrictive measures against persons responsible for undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence for another 36 months — until 22 September 2029 — in the first such three-year renewal rather than the usual six-month review. At the same time the EU removed Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the list, a move reportedly pushed by France, Slovakia and Luxembourg and not coordinated with Ukraine. The next day, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pardoned 20 people, including French citizen Martin Ryan, who had been convicted of espionage in Azerbaijan.