Switzerland’s Thriving Russian Spy Hub Draws Scrutiny
Switzerland only expels diplomats for internal security
Politicians warn of threats from Russian spies in Switzerland
Lac Leman in Geneva.
Lac Leman in Geneva.Photographer: Jose Cendon/Bloomberg
By Andy Hoffman
October 8, 2023 at 4:31 PM GMT+8
Switzerland has become home to one-fifth of the Russian spies operating in Europe as other countries expel diplomats, NZZ newspaper reported, citing an intelligence report.
European governments have kicked out hundreds of Russian diplomats alleged to be working as spies since Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Yet Switzerland is now home to some 80 Russian agents, a senior official with the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (NDB) told members of the National Council’s Foreign Policy Commission in September, NZZ reported.
While Swiss cities such as Geneva and Bern have always attracted intelligence activities, the issue of Russian diplomats operating as spies in Switzerland has now become a more heightened topic of debate among Swiss politicians.
“These foreign agents represent a threat to the internal and external security of Switzerland,” National Councilor and member of the Social Democratic Party Fabian Molina, told NZZ.
Asset Freeze
Long known for its stance of neutrality, Switzerland has broken with tradition by mirroring most European Union sanctions against Russia and some related individuals since the beginning of the war. It said last year it had frozen about 7.5 billion Swiss francs ($8.2 billion) worth of Russian assets.
That crackdown hasn’t extended to diplomats, who continue to enjoy immunity.
“The Federal Council does not impose any sanctions in the form of expelling diplomats,” a spokesperson for the Swiss Foreign Affairs Department told NZZ, adding that communication channels with Russia must be maintained.
“When Switzerland expels diplomats, it does so for reasons of internal security and these cases are not communicated publicly,” the spokesperson told the newspaper.
If you’re neutral between good and bad, you’re just on the bad side.
Switzerland is anyone’s bitch as long as you bring money.
This is nothing new. One of the most famous and successful spy rings of WW2, the Lucy spy ring, was a Soviet operation based in Switzerland. They gave the Soviets the plans for the Kursk offensive which allowed the Soviets to prepare and win the very important battle, perhaps the largest of WW2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_spy_ring
Nazi gold, laundered Russian currency. All spends the same.
Ah the bastion of xenophobia and shitty morals, Switzerland.
switzerland will celebrate 100 years at the service of nazi regimes, in just couple of years
The money-grubbing, amoral Switzerland. Why are we surprised?
Switzerland aint got nothing on Austria as a russian spy hub.
The fact most of the spies hiding in Switzerland are completely exposed means all they can do is paperwork, not so in Austria.
Switzerland: “We’re neutral, always have been”
Anyone: “We’ve got money”
Switzerland: “You son of a bitch, you’re in”
The problem with being neutral is that you also support enemies of people you claim to be friends with, which means you have no actual friends at the end of the day.
C’mon, if you’re a Russian agent, wouldn’t you make up an excuse to live in Switzerland, vs some shithole city in Russia? With all of the graft going on among Russians, I imagine at least half of those spies are worthless.
Sounds like Switzerland is no longer neutral. They can’t just claim neutrality, they should BE neutral
I can see lots of reasons why people would want to go to Switzerland, and flags a big plus.
What, the thriving russian spy hub forgot to pay taxes or something?
>SpyHub
Is that like some kind of LinkedIn for the clandestine services?
16 comments
Text:
Switzerland’s Thriving Russian Spy Hub Draws Scrutiny
Switzerland only expels diplomats for internal security
Politicians warn of threats from Russian spies in Switzerland
Lac Leman in Geneva.
Lac Leman in Geneva.Photographer: Jose Cendon/Bloomberg
By Andy Hoffman
October 8, 2023 at 4:31 PM GMT+8
Switzerland has become home to one-fifth of the Russian spies operating in Europe as other countries expel diplomats, NZZ newspaper reported, citing an intelligence report.
European governments have kicked out hundreds of Russian diplomats alleged to be working as spies since Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Yet Switzerland is now home to some 80 Russian agents, a senior official with the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (NDB) told members of the National Council’s Foreign Policy Commission in September, NZZ reported.
While Swiss cities such as Geneva and Bern have always attracted intelligence activities, the issue of Russian diplomats operating as spies in Switzerland has now become a more heightened topic of debate among Swiss politicians.
“These foreign agents represent a threat to the internal and external security of Switzerland,” National Councilor and member of the Social Democratic Party Fabian Molina, told NZZ.
Asset Freeze
Long known for its stance of neutrality, Switzerland has broken with tradition by mirroring most European Union sanctions against Russia and some related individuals since the beginning of the war. It said last year it had frozen about 7.5 billion Swiss francs ($8.2 billion) worth of Russian assets.
That crackdown hasn’t extended to diplomats, who continue to enjoy immunity.
“The Federal Council does not impose any sanctions in the form of expelling diplomats,” a spokesperson for the Swiss Foreign Affairs Department told NZZ, adding that communication channels with Russia must be maintained.
“When Switzerland expels diplomats, it does so for reasons of internal security and these cases are not communicated publicly,” the spokesperson told the newspaper.
If you’re neutral between good and bad, you’re just on the bad side.
Switzerland is anyone’s bitch as long as you bring money.
This is nothing new. One of the most famous and successful spy rings of WW2, the Lucy spy ring, was a Soviet operation based in Switzerland. They gave the Soviets the plans for the Kursk offensive which allowed the Soviets to prepare and win the very important battle, perhaps the largest of WW2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_spy_ring
Nazi gold, laundered Russian currency. All spends the same.
Ah the bastion of xenophobia and shitty morals, Switzerland.
switzerland will celebrate 100 years at the service of nazi regimes, in just couple of years
The money-grubbing, amoral Switzerland. Why are we surprised?
Switzerland aint got nothing on Austria as a russian spy hub.
The fact most of the spies hiding in Switzerland are completely exposed means all they can do is paperwork, not so in Austria.
Switzerland: “We’re neutral, always have been”
Anyone: “We’ve got money”
Switzerland: “You son of a bitch, you’re in”
The problem with being neutral is that you also support enemies of people you claim to be friends with, which means you have no actual friends at the end of the day.
C’mon, if you’re a Russian agent, wouldn’t you make up an excuse to live in Switzerland, vs some shithole city in Russia? With all of the graft going on among Russians, I imagine at least half of those spies are worthless.
Sounds like Switzerland is no longer neutral. They can’t just claim neutrality, they should BE neutral
I can see lots of reasons why people would want to go to Switzerland, and flags a big plus.
What, the thriving russian spy hub forgot to pay taxes or something?
>SpyHub
Is that like some kind of LinkedIn for the clandestine services?