Switzerland accuses Russian diplomat of espionage

In Switzerland, the prosecutor’s office issued an arrest warrant for a Russian diplomat on charges of espionage and violation of the sanctions regime. Swiss Info reported this, noting that the diplomat had already left the country.

According to law enforcement officials, the person in question, who is officially recognized as a diplomat, conducted intelligence activities with the aim of obtaining weapons and other “potentially dangerous materials.” Along with him, two other people were involved in the case, whose citizenship and status were not specified.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already lifted diplomatic immunity from the Russian at the request of the prosecutor’s office. So, if he returns to Switzerland, he will be immediately arrested.

According to Tages-Anzeiger, the diplomat worked at the Russian Embassy in Bern and for some time was under the surveillance of the Swiss intelligence services. He left the country after being accused of violating federal sanctions and military control laws.

Bern did not call the Russian Ambassador Sergei Garmonin “on the carpet,” said a source in the Foreign Ministry – the issue was resolved confidentially, “through other channels.” Also, after the initiation of a criminal case, law enforcement officials conducted searches in several cantons of the country.

Switzerland adheres to a position of military neutrality and therefore does not supply weapons to Ukraine and prohibits their re-export to other countries. However, it joined the EU’s economic sanctions against Russia.

It was previously reported that a Russian spy-diplomat tried to buy weapons in Switzerland before the Peace Summit.

In Switzerland, a third of Russian diplomats are suspected of espionage