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International humanitarian law, human rights and peacebuilding are the principles of Swiss foreign policy. On paper. Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis (62) is quite flexible in daily political life. This is especially evident in his handling of the death of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny, who died in a Russian prison camp at the age of 47.
According to the official report, Navalny collapsed during a prison tour and attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. Critics of the Putin regime assume that the president cold-bloodedly had his greatest opponent murdered. Navalny’s wife also speaks of murder.
Swiss ambassador not at funeral
The international community was no less indignant. “The Kremlin regime’s slow murder of Alexei Navalny is a stark reminder of its complete disregard for human life,” the EU said. Similar responses came from all Western capitals.
And officially Switzerland? Foreign Minister Cassis praised Navalny as an “exemplary champion of democracy and fundamental rights.” The country is shocked by his death and expects an investigation to be opened into the causes of the opposition figure’s death. Cassis left it at that.
Unlike Western countries, the Swiss ambassador to Moscow, Krystyna Marty Lang (58), did not attend Navalny’s funeral. “Several considerations – including the fact that there was no invitation – led the Swiss embassy in Moscow not to attend Alexei Navalny’s funeral,” the FDFA said.
Too harshly worded for EDA
But the FDFA was also conspicuous by its absence in Geneva. Shortly after Navalny’s death, the UN Human Rights Council discussed it. 43 countries – including the US and EU countries – called for an independent international investigation. The EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway also signed the resolution introduced by Luxembourg. The only EFTA member to drop out was Switzerland.
“After broad internal consultation, the FDFA has decided not to join the relevant joint statement,” the FDFA said. However, Switzerland has taken a clear position within the OSCE, the Council of Europe and also the UN Human Rights Council on Navalny’s death: “In its statements, it has called on the Russian authorities to conduct an independent, credible and transparent investigation.”
Documents that SonntagsBlick was able to view with the help of the public information law now show: Bern ignored the recommendations of the Swiss representation at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The EDA Ministry of Foreign Affairs felt that the text of the resolution was too sharply worded. “We are outraged by the death of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, for which President Putin and the Russian authorities ultimately bear responsibility,” the resolution said.
“The tone of voice does not suit Switzerland”
However, the FDFA did not want to mention Putin by name: “We could live with the expression ‘Russian authorities’,” an internal newspaper said. The tone does not suit Switzerland and the resolution contains “sentences/passages that are problematic for us”.
How little Navalny’s fate affected official Switzerland was already evident from the issue of sanctions.
In August, when Putin’s most influential Russian opponent was still alive, the Federal Council did not want to join the EU sanctions against Moscow: “After weighing up interests based on various foreign policy and legal criteria, the Federal Council decided not to to take. sanctions,” it said at the time.
Last week, the EU tightened sanctions on Russia over Navalny’s death. It is also unlikely that Switzerland will join them.
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
