Thursday 24 September 2026 · Edition of the day

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The Skeptic's Daily

The day's biggest stories, taken apart. For each one: what is actually established, what is only asserted, the questions worth asking — and a plausibility score for the central claim, given everything currently known.

Stories
1
Average plausibility
78%
How to read the score
It rates how well the core claim is evidenced — not how important the story is, nor whether it is good or bad news.
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01PoliticsEurope

EU faces backlash after lifting sanctions on two Russian billionaires

Unfreezing the assets of Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov has drawn criticism from several member states.

The EU lifted sanctions on Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov, ending asset freezes and travel bans imposed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, even as broader Russia sanctions were renewed. Some member states said the move, reportedly shaped by French pressure, undermined the sanctions regime. The European Commission has not fully explained the delistings.

What holds up

  • ✓The delisting of both men alongside the broader renewal is reported by Reuters.
  • ✓Criticism from member states is documented in the same reporting.

What doesn't yet

  • ?French pressure is attributed to unnamed sources and not confirmed by French officials.
  • ?Statements from Fridman's lawyers about arbitration are self-interested.

Ask before you share

  • →What justification did the Commission give for these two individuals?
  • →Could this weaken EU unity on future sanctions?
  • →Will other sanctioned individuals now pursue similar claims?

Sources & original reporting

  1. [1]Reuters via Ground News · Accessed 24 Sept 2026 · ground.news