The Financial Times reports that Uzbekistan is asking the European Union to cancel sanctions against Alisher Usmanov and his sister.
Russian oligarch was sanctioned by the European Union in February, immediately after the war between Russia and Ukraine.
EU claims that he is one of the "favorite oligarchs" of the Russian president. His sister, Gulbahar Ismailova, was also sanctioned because of her ownership of Usmanov's assets, such as the $600 million Dilbar yacht.
Apparently, Tashkent has raised this issue in recent meetings between Uzbek and European Union officials guaranteeing Usmanov legal support for a possible lawsuit if the EU rejects demands to lift the restrictions.
According to the publication, before the war between Russia and Ukraine, Usmanov, who had a fortune of about 20 billion dollars, had close ties with Uzbekistan, where he was born and raised.
Uzbekistan has argued that sanctions against him, including an asset freeze and travel ban, have limited his ability to invest some of his wealth in the country.
"We cannot explain the actions of the Uzbek government, but the sanctions are really hindering investment and charity projects," said Usmanov's press secretary.
Both Alisher Usmanov and his sister Ismailova, along with more than a dozen other Russian oligarchs, filed a formal complaint against the EU restrictions.
But any move to lift sanctions against them must be unanimously approved by all 27 members of the European Union.
This could lead to similar discussions about dozens of dual-ethnic Russian oligarchs who have been sanctioned, many EU officials told the Financial Times.
Saodat Narziyeva, another sister of Usmanov, was removed from the European Union's sanctions list in September after her representatives successfully appealed the decisions "based on false accusations".
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