The US ambassador in Budapest slams Hungarian government for helping Russian oligarchs

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Photo: facebook.com/hungary.usembassy

David Pressman criticized the Hungarian government for protecting the Russian oligarchs from the extension of some EU sanctions.

He asked in a tweet “How does protecting Russian oligarchs from sanctions serve Hungary and Hungarians?”

Hungarian and international press wrote earlier this week that the government would like to remove nine Russian individuals from an EU sanctions list concerning 1,300 individuals and 170 entities. Rferl.org wrote that Hungary attempted to cross, among others, Viktor Rashnikov, Pyotr Aven, and Alisher Usmanov from the list. The sanctions include visa-ban and asset freeze.

“The sanctions list must receive unanimous approval to be rolled over as the new renewal deadline approaches on March 15”, the website said. “Hungary is also looking to remove Usmanov’s sister, Gulbahor Ismailova; Aven’s business partner, Mikhail Fridman; Belarusian-Russian oligarch Dmitry Mazepin; his son Nikita Mazepin; and Russian oligarchs Grygory Berezkin and Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor”, they added.

The EU believes Mr Usmanov, Mr Kantor and Mr Mazepin have close ties with President Putin. The same goes for Mr Aven, who regularly meets with the Russian leader. Meanwhile, Mr Rashnikov is the owner of the Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) company, one of Russia’s largest taxpayers.

USA ambassador Russia sanctions
Read alsoThe US ambassador in Budapest slams Hungarian government for helping Russian oligarchs

Source: Twitter, Rferl.org

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