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The Federal Council should more consistently expel Russian and other foreign spies from the country. The National Council calls for this with a proposal. The Federal Council intends to continue to investigate each case individually, regardless of the outcome of the transaction.
With 103 votes against, 74 and 19 abstentions, the Grand Chamber adopted a corresponding motion from the Foreign Policy Committee on Tuesday. The deal now goes to the Council of States.
If the Federal Council also agrees to the proposal, it must consistently expel from the country all foreign persons who endanger Switzerland’s internal or external security or Switzerland’s role as a host state through prohibited intelligence activities and who cannot be prosecuted.
Close loopholes in the law
Nowadays there are loopholes in the law, says committee spokesperson Fabian Molina (SP/ZH). Persons belonging to a diplomatic corps often invoke diplomatic immunity in connection with banned intelligence services. “Switzerland has a problem with foreign and especially Russian spies,” Molina said.
According to the Federal Intelligence Service (NDB), one in five Russian intelligence officers in Europe is in Switzerland. “This is also due to the slow handling of the problem by the Federal Council.”
Intelligence activities can already be monitored today. Banned intelligence services are punishable in Switzerland. The SVP/FDP minority in the National Council is satisfied with the standard practice, as spokesperson Roland Rino Büchel (SVP/SG) emphasized.
The Federal Council is right to be cautious about deportations or convictions of employees of foreign secret services, as long as the espionage activities do not threaten Switzerland’s internal security. “Does it make sense to deport two spies with great fanfare and in return no longer receive security-relevant information?” Büchel asked rhetorically.
Amherd wants to investigate the cases individually
Defense Minister Viola Amherd made it clear that even if the motion were accepted, an individual case assessment and a case-by-case decision would continue to take place to take due account of Switzerland’s special circumstances and interests. “We are building on previous practice.” (SDA)
Source:Blick
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