Analysis of the database shows: Ten Swiss are on Putin’s wanted list

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>

He was involved in the construction of the new Swiss embassy in Moscow. The Swiss lived in Russia for 26 years. Now his name is on the wanted list of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The affected person, who now lives in Switzerland, expressed his surprise to the “Tages-Anzeiger”. He never had any problems in Russia.

The man is not the only one with the problem. A total of ten Swiss nationals are on the Russian wanted list, which was recently posted online by the opposition media Mediazona. It is unlikely that the Russians will be able to expand the search internationally. Interpol has already rejected the request in known cases.

On the list for political reasons

However, if those affected do not know that their name is on the Russian wanted list, this can be quite unpleasant for them. “If you enter Russia, you will definitely be imprisoned first,” says Mediazona editor Mika Golubowski.

The published list is from early February. It contains more than 96,000 names – with date of birth, nationality and probable place of residence. The reasons for the search are not given.

Most people come from Russia or the former states of the Soviet Union. According to Mediazona, publicly available court records show that many of them are wanted for criminal activity. However, about 800 people clearly ended up on the list for political reasons. This includes Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (46), a particularly sharp critic of Putin.

In the service of a foreign army

The list includes a fertilizer producer from Basel that years ago was involved in a takeover battle for a Russian ammonia producer. He claims he was ostracized and dispossessed in Russia using illegal methods and arbitrary persecution.

It is not surprising that Avi Motola (48) is also on Russia’s wanted list. The man from Schaffhausen was used as a sniper in Ukraine. However, it was later revealed that the mercenary had served time in prison in Switzerland for various crimes and was still wanted. Furthermore, by serving in a foreign army, he has committed a criminal offense under Swiss military law.

Switzerland was never informed

Others on the list include an IT entrepreneur from Aargau, the owner of a travel agency in the canton of St. Gallen and an asset manager from Geneva at an investment company in Cyprus.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EDA) of FDP federal councilor Ignazio Cassis (62) was not aware of the wanted list from the Russian side. She also has “no knowledge of criminal proceedings or criminally relevant actions in connection with the construction of the embassy”. (dba)

Source:Blick