One in five Russian agents stationed in Europe is based in Switzerland.
KEYSTONE
Parliament has instructed the Swiss government to get tough on Russian spies by expelling anyone who endangers Swiss national security with illegal intelligence activities.
On Monday, the Senate followed a recommendation from its Foreign Affairs Committee with 32 votes in favour of the motion, nine against, with two abstentions. “Switzerland, as the seat of international organisations and as a state in the heart of Europe, is an attractive location for intelligence services,” said Senate committee spokeswoman Franziska Roth.
According to reports from the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS), for example, one in five Russian intelligence officers stationed in Europe is in Switzerland. The illegal activities therefore endanger, among other things, the protected dialogue spaces provided by International Geneva. These activities could therefore pose a risk to Switzerland’s diplomatic interests and to the people targeted.
Prohibited intelligence services therefore not only endanger potentially sensitive information and secrets of Switzerland, but also the freedom of expression and assembly of certain communities. This could also damage Switzerland’s reputation as a host country.
More
More
Switzerland poised to get tough on Russian spies
This content was published on
Swiss parliamentarians want Russian spies expelled as the country braces for a fresh wave of cyberattacks.
A minority in the Senate requested that the motion be rejected. They saw no added value compared to the Federal Council’s current practice. There are various measures, such as preventive entry bans and the expulsion of exposed agents, which are already being implemented, said Petra Gössi.
Prohibited intelligence services are punishable in Switzerland. Defence Minister Viola Amherd assured the Senate that even if the motion were accepted, individual case examinations and decisions would continue to be made in order to “take due account of the special circumstances and the interests of Switzerland.”
Adapted from German by DeepL/mga
This news story has been written and carefully fact-checked by an external editorial team. At SWI swissinfo.ch we select the most relevant news for an international audience and use automatic translation tools such as DeepL to translate it into English. Providing you with automatically translated news gives us the time to write more in-depth articles.
If you want to know more about how we work, have a look here, and if you have feedback on this news story please write to english@swissinfo.ch.
External Content
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Almost finished… We need to confirm your email address. To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you.
Popular Stories
More
Foreign affairs
Magnitsky case: How Switzerland failed to investigate Russian millions
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
Norway holds Swiss investments worth over CHF35 billion
This content was published on
The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund holds investments in Switzerland worth CHF 35.5 billion ($39 billion), says Norges Bank CEO Nicolai Tangen.
Flooding of Rhone River causes severe road and rail traffic disruptions
This content was published on
Due to flooding in canton Valais, southern Switzerland, the A9 motorway between Sierre and Sion is closed. Traffic was also severely disrupted on the Simplon railway line.
Two dead after landslide hits southern Switzerland
This content was published on
After a landslide hit the Maggia Valley in canton Ticino, rescuers from Swiss Air-Rescue recovered two bodies on Sunday. One person is still missing.
Swiss beat Italians 2-0 to reach Euro football quarter-finals
This content was published on
Switzerland beat defending champions Italy in Berlin on Saturday night, justifying their status as the tournament's "secret" favourites.
Switzerland must urgently improve electricity distribution, says new sector boss
This content was published on
Switzerland needs to develop its electricity transmission and distribution network, says the new president of the Association of Swiss Electricity Companies, Martin Schwab.
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.