Switzerland Today

This content was published on February 19, 2024 - 18:00

2 minutes

Swissinfo.ch's India specialist covers a wide range of issues from bilateral relations to Bollywood. He also knows a thing or two about Swiss watchmaking and is partial to the French-speaking part of Switzerland. 

Dear Swiss Abroad,

Carnival season is upon us. It is that time of year when the Swiss cast off their Swissness to dress up in silly costumes, make a lot of noise and litter the street with confetti.

fasnacht — KEYSTONE/© KEYSTONE / GEORGIOS KEFALAS

In the news : Hostage blowback, missing persons, lucky parachutists and Basel carnival.

The family of the Iranian asylum seeker who held 13 people hostage on a Swiss train and was shot dead have filed a criminal complaintExternal link. “We don’t support what he did, but he didn’t deserve to be killed. It’s an injustice,” they said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is seeking to clarify the fate of 23,000 people missingExternal link in connection with the war in Ukraine. By the end of January, the organisation had helped 8,000 families obtain information on the fate or whereabouts of their loved ones.

On Sunday, a plane crashed near Grenchen airfield in northwestern Switzerland. But miraculously the 11 parachutists on board managed to jump out in timeExternal link and land safely. The pilot of the plane died.

Fasnacht – Switzerland’s biggest carnivalExternal link – begins today in Basel. Tens of thousands turned up for the Morgestraich at 4am for the three-day event that starts on the first Monday after Ash Wednesday.

A Swiss Abroad who fights for a foreign army

When you think Swiss Abroad you probably think student, retiree, diplomat or entrepreneur. Seldom does the image of a soldier come to mind. Jona Neidhart is an exception. The 36-year-old Zurich native is a member of the Ukrainian army’s international legion. He’s been on the frontline fighting against Russia since March 2022, actions that are illegal under Swiss law.

“I will suffer with these people and, if necessary, I will perish with them,” he told External linkBlickExternal link newspaper. “And if I survive, I will face justice in Switzerland.” He respects the law. “But morally, there is no alternative for me. None.”