Russia has called on the European Union to lift sanctions imposed on Russian citizens and businessmen, saying the measures should be removed from all affected individuals.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov made the demand on Tuesday during his daily briefing with journalists.
“We believe these sanctions must be lifted both for Usmanov and Fridman, and for all Russian businessmen, as well as for all Russian citizens,” Peskov said.
Peskov also repeated Moscow’s position that the EU sanctions are illegal.
The sanctions include asset freezes and travel restrictions against Russian individuals and businessmen targeted by the bloc.
The demand comes as the 27-member European Union considers the renewal of its sanctions against Russian citizens following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The bloc had appeared ready to remove sanctions imposed on Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman.
France, Luxembourg and Slovakia had supported the move, but Latvia has opposed the proposal, raising uncertainty over the wider renewal of the sanctions.
Usmanov and Fridman are among several Russian businessmen who have been sanctioned by the EU since the start of the war in Ukraine.
The EU faces a deadline to renew the measures, adding pressure on member states to reach an agreement on the issue.
Russia has consistently criticised the sanctions imposed by Western countries, arguing that they are unlawful and should be withdrawn.
