Venediktov named the authors of the request to lift sanctions against Fridman

Among the signatories for the removal of the leaders of Alfa Group from EU sanctions are journalist Leonid Parfyonov, Sergey Parkhomenko recognized as foreign agents,Natalia Sindeeva and Evgeny ChichvarkinAlexey VenediktovAlexey VenediktovAlexey VenediktovAlexey VenediktovAlexey Venediktov

The former editor-in-chief of the Ekho Moskvy radio station, Alexei Venediktov (recognized as a foreign agent), published a list of signatories for removing the leaders of Alfa Group from European sanctions.

The document was written in the name of the HEAD of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leiden, and the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell. The authors of the appeal believe that Alfa Group is a "unique example" of private business in RUSSIA, built from scratch, and in Russian business circles the company has always been considered "the most pro-Western business structure." They also point out that the founder of Alfa Group, Mikhail Fridman, is known for liberal views and was a friend of Boris Nemtsov, who was killed in 2015. In addition, Friedman has never met with Russian President Vladimir Putin one-on-one, he has no state awards, he was born and raised in Ukraine.

They believe that the lifting of sanctions will be an example of an objective individual approach to restrictions, as well as create "constructive motivation" for all businessmen in Russia.

Among the signatories are:

oppositionist Leonid Volkov (recognized as a foreign agent); founder of the Dozhd TV channel (included in Russia in the register of media-foreign agents) Natalia Sindeeva (recognized as a foreign agent); co-founder of the Dozhd TV channel Vera Krichevskaya; publicist, writer Alfred Koch; oppositionist Leonid Gozman (included in the register of foreign media agents); journalist Sergei Parkhomenko (included in the register of media-foreign agents); journalist Leonid Parfenov; businessman Yevgeny Chichvarkin (included in the register of foreign media agents); publicist, economist Vladislav Inozemtsev.

“I am not the letter writer. I'm the thief who stole it. But judging by the order of the signatures, we see Volkov. The decision is now, as I understand it, for the COURT, and not for the European Commission, although it may lift the sanctions. I can’t evaluate the results yet, but I think the personal sanctions adopted out of competition are wrong, ”Alexey Venediktov told RBC.

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In the spring of 2022, after the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, Mikhail Fridman, along with other major shareholders of Alfa Group, Petr Aven, Alexei Kuzmichev and German Khan, came under EU and UK sanctions.

A publication in the official journal of the EU on the sanctions claimed that Aven "benefited from his connections in power" and Friedman "managed to develop strong ties with the administration of [Russian President] Vladimir Putin." The sanctions include freezing assets in the EU and a ban on entry.

Aven and Friedman later filed suit with the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg against the decision of the EU Council. They called the EU decision unreasonable and capable of causing unjustified damage to employees, customers, partners and businesses.

Both businessmen complained that because of the sanctions they had to give up many familiar things. Friedman compared life under sanctions with house arrest, and Aven admitted that he did not know how to survive now.

Last September, The Wall Street Journal wrote that Friedman offered to transfer $1 billion to Ukrainian Alfa Bank. According to the publication, in this way the billionaire hoped to convince the UK to lift sanctions from him. However, Friedman himself denied that he offered Ukraine a "quid pro quo."