Azerbaijan Rejects Reports it Pressured France Over Billionaire's EU Sanctions The intricate web of alliances, interests, and influence peddling that underpins international relations has once again been laid bare in a high stakes drama involving Azerbaijan, France, and the European Union's sanctions list.
At its center is billionaire Alisher Usmanov, who has found himself at the forefront of allegations that Azerbaijani pressure on French officials led to his removal from Western sanctions.
Azerbaijan denies any involvement in pressuring France over Usmanov's status, but diplomatic correspondence between Baku and U. S. and European leaders reveals a different story.