Russia

Switzerland

Swiss neutrality vote becomes a test of sanctions policy and foreign influence

Swiss voters will decide on September 27 whether to constitutionalise a stricter interpretation of neutrality, including limits on sanctions. The campaign is attracting reported Russian influence efforts and raises questions about Switzerland’s foreign-policy autonomy.

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Foreign Policy

Switzerland Aligns with EU, Approves 20th Sanctions Package Against Russia

The Swiss government has adopted a new package of sanctions against Russia, aligning with the European Union's 20th package. The measures include new service bans related to Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the activation of an anti-circumvention tool.

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Business

Nestlé Risks Losing Control of Russian Business After Putin Petitioned

The Swiss food giant faces a potential state takeover of five Russian subsidiaries after a local logistics firm petitioned President Vladimir Putin. The move, which could precede a change of ownership, highlights the escalating risks for Swiss companies still operating in Russia.

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Business

Swiss food giant Nestlé faces the potential loss of control over five Russian subsidiaries after a local logistics firm petitioned President Putin for their "temporary state administration." The move, citing a lack of expansion by Nestlé, has sent ripples through the Swiss market and highlighted the escalating risks for foreign companies in Russia.

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International Relations

Switzerland has officially joined an international coalition focused on the return of thousands of Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia. This article examines Switzerland's diplomatic role and the challenges faced by the international effort to reunite families affected by the war.

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Justice

Switzerland's Federal Supreme Court has denied an appeal from a Russian oligarch seeking to have his assets unfrozen. The court upheld the view that he is an influential businessman in an industry generating substantial revenue for the Russian state, justifying the sanctions imposed after the war in Ukraine.

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Energy

A new Greenpeace report asserts that Swiss nuclear plants remain heavily dependent on Russian-processed uranium, arguing that shifting mining locations to Kazakhstan is insufficient to break ties with Russia's Rosatom.

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Crime

The Swiss Federal Criminal Court has handed down a 16-month suspended sentence to a businessman found guilty of violating the Goods Control Act by supplying laboratory equipment intended for a Russian program of mass destruction.

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National Security

Switzerland's security and neutrality are in focus as a businessman is convicted for supplying 'mass destruction' goods to Russia. Simultaneously, the country's new Patriot missile defense system faces potential doubling in cost and multi-year delays, raising critical questions about Swiss defense procurement and its geopolitical stance.

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Politics

Russian exiles in Switzerland are warning that upcoming Victory Day commemorative rallies in Geneva and Basel are being used by the Kremlin to spread war propaganda. They argue the 'Immortal Regiment' events have been co-opted to legitimize the aggression against Ukraine.

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Geopolitics

The Russian government has labeled the association 'Russia of the Future – Switzerland' as an undesirable organization. This move exposes anyone in Russia who cooperates with or donates to the Swiss-based group to administrative and potentially criminal prosecution.

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Sanctions

In a significant legal challenge, Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko has appealed to the Federal Administrative Court to have his name removed from Switzerland's sanctions list. The case puts Switzerland's adoption of EU sanctions against Russian oligarchs under judicial scrutiny.

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Neutrality

In a dual policy move reflecting its complex neutrality stance, Switzerland will adopt the EU's ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports while also moving to legally enshrine trade restrictions on goods being exported to Ukraine that could be used in the conflict.

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Foreign Policy

Aligning with the European Union's 19th sanctions package, Switzerland will impose a complete ban on the purchase and import of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) from April 25, 2026, aiming to reduce Russia's revenues from fossil fuels.

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Diplomacy

Top diplomats from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States have convened in Geneva for a critical round of talks aimed at finding a resolution to the four-year conflict. We cover the main expectations, key demands, and Switzerland's central role in facilitating the negotiations.

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Foreign Policy

The European Union has imposed sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on two Swiss citizens—a former intelligence officer and a Swiss-Cameroonian influencer—for their alleged involvement in spreading Russian propaganda.

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Foreign Policy

As chairman of the OSCE, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis is in Moscow for crucial discussions with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. The visit aims to find paths towards a 'just and lasting peace' in Ukraine amid a tense geopolitical climate, underscored by the recent expiry of the last US-Russia nuclear treaty.

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Russia

Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister has strongly denounced an increasing stream of Russian disinformation, labeling it an attempt to influence Swiss politics and unsettle the population by falsely claiming Switzerland is no longer neutral or safe.

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Foreign Policy

Defence Minister Martin Pfister has publicly condemned a rising tide of Russian 'conspiracy narratives' and propaganda aimed at undermining Swiss neutrality and destabilizing public opinion.

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