“Safe haven”: Switzerland is so nice with Russian spies

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It is so far the only verdict against a Russian spy in Switzerland, as the “NZZ” writes: In the summer of 2019, Geneva police caught a man with a Russian passport who was traveling with false number plates and had several mobile phones, a camera , carried a drone and several documents with different names. His task: to shadow compatriots and, if necessary, intimidate them. The man was sentenced to six months in prison for serving as a political intelligence agent.

Such a statement is rare. Switzerland is also reluctant to expel Russian agents. According to research by the “NZZ”, employees of foreign secret services are rarely expelled or convicted – “and if so, then without much noise”.

As long as the espionage activity does not threaten Switzerland’s internal security, the Federal Council will exercise restraint. If they do, the State Department (EDA) will approach the embassy directly and discreetly ask them to remove the person — which usually happens, well-informed sources explain to Blick.

70 to 80 Russian spies

According to the federal government, the number of agents in Russian representations has remained constant. According to the FDFA, 221 people are diplomatically accredited to the Russian representations. The Federal Intelligence Service FIS estimates that more than a third of them – that is, 70 to 80 people – work for Russian secret services. However, only a small proportion of them are officially accredited in this capacity.

In its latest situation report at the end of June, the FIS also reports that the threat of foreign espionage, especially Russian and Chinese, remains high.

Switzerland as a “safe haven”

“The importance of Switzerland as a relatively safe haven for the work of the Russian secret service is increasing because the structures here are still intact,” says historian and secret service expert Adrian Hänni in an interview with the “NZZ”.

He therefore considers it plausible to probable that secret activities of Russian secret services in European countries are increasingly being directed from Switzerland. But Switzerland had also attracted attention as an espionage hub before.

The reserved practice of official Switzerland is increasingly bringing politics onto the scene. Various security politicians are calling for a tougher approach to Russian spies. (SDA/rus)

Source:Blick