EU Weighs Unfreezing €2 Bn of Deripaska-Linked Assets to Compensate Raiffeisen

The European Union is reportedly considering lifting sanctions on some assets tied to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska to compensate Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) for a €2 bn judgment imposed by a Russian court.

Drafts of the proposed measures include unfreezing shares in Austrian construction firm Strabag, which were once partially held by Deripaska and have been under EU sanctions since 2022. The assets would then be transferred to RBI under the compensation scheme.

The move, initially backed by Austria, is provoking concern among several EU member states. Critics argue it could legitimise judicial rulings from Russia aimed at retaliating against Western sanctions, and open the door for other sanctioned figures to seek similar compensation through court decisions.

Both Raiffeisen and the European Commission have declined comment on the reports.