The attack on Ukraine and subsequent war has led to an “increasingly unpredictable” situation in Russia, the foreign ministry wroteExternal link on Friday, and it is possible that things could “suddenly deteriorate”.
This week Russia added Switzerland to a list of countries deemed “unfriendly”, which means it’s not possible to rule out “retaliation measures” aimed at Switzerland or at Swiss citizens, the ministry said.
As such, it “recommends that Swiss nationals whose presence is not urgently needed leave the country temporarily and by their own means”, noting that direct flights between Russia and Switzerland are no longer available due to the closure of European airspace to Russian planes.
“The decision to leave the country is an individual decision,” the foreign ministry added.
More
More
Switzerland listed as ‘unfriendly’ country by Russia
This content was published on
Moscow published the list on Monday after being hit by Western financial sanctions. All corporate deals with companies and individuals from the so-called “unfriendly countries” now have to be approved by a government commission, according to Reuters. The list follows a presidential decree on March 5 allowing the Russian government, companies and citizens to temporarily…
Swiss citizens in Russia are advised to adhere to the rules of local authorities, to stay clear of all types of demonstrations, and to avoid making political statements. If the situation in Russia were to get worse for Swiss people, the embassy in Moscow has only “very limited, or even no possibilities” to help, the foreign ministry said.
A helplineExternal link is also available for Swiss citizens abroad with urgent questions.
At the end of 2018, there were 732 Swiss nationals living in Russia.
Popular Stories
More
Multinational companies
Azeri fossil-fuel cash cow brings controversy to Switzerland
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
Swiss public broadcaster no longer has staff in Moscow
This content was published on
Following the introduction of strict new information laws in Russia, the Swiss public broadcaster SRF no longer has journalists reporting directly from Moscow.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.