The Court of Justice of the European Union has recommended lifting certain sanctions imposed on Ingush-born Russian oligarch Mikhail Gutseriev. However, this decision does not guarantee the lifting of the current restrictions, Forbes reports.

The sanctions in question concern those the EU began imposing on Belarus in 2004. In 2021, Brussels accused Gutseriev of supporting President Alexander Lukashenko and initiated sanctions against him. During the same period, the billionaire filed a lawsuit against the EU. The sanctions were subsequently extended several times.
Now, the court has concluded that the EU erred in assuming that Gutseriev continues to derive personal benefits from his interactions with the Belarusian authorities, particularly in the potash sector. The court ruled to annul the extension of the restrictions approved on February 24, 2025.

The document justifying the sanctions stated that the businessman has commercial interests in Belarus in the energy, potash, and hotel industries. It also noted that, as a longtime acquaintance of Lukashenko, Gutseriev, thanks to this connection, has managed to accumulate significant wealth and gain influence among the country's political elite.

68-year-old billionaire Mikhail Gutseriev is the owner of the Safmar group of companies, as well as RussNeft, Russian Coal, and other assets.