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Switzerland rejected a request to treat the injured Ukrainian citizen on the grounds that doing so would violate his neutral status. Photo/republic world
Tages Anzeiger reports the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Center reportedly contacted the Swiss Army’s Coordinated Medical Services (KSD) in May. The military bloc is seeking assistance from Swiss medics in treating not only Ukrainian soldiers but also civilians in need of hospital treatment.
The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Center is a NATO structure currently coordinating the international medical evacuation and treatment of Ukrainians injured during the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev.
Switzerland’s national association of health care providers – the conference of regional health directors (GDK) – later said it was “basically open” to accepting injured Ukrainians into Swiss health facilities. The Federal Health Office also signaled its approval.
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“However, in mid-June, the idea was rejected by the State Department, which said such acceptance was impossible for legal and practical reasons,” the Tages Anzeiger report was quoted as saying. Russia TodayTuesday (19/7/2022).
Swiss media reported that under the Geneva Conventions ratified by Bern, a neutral country may treat soldiers who take part in conflicts between third countries but must then ensure they can no longer take part in acts of war.
“Otherwise, such a country will lose its neutral status,” Swiss media reports explained.
According to the Swiss newspaper Blick, Bern has the potential to imprison the Ukrainian soldiers he cares for. “Another option is to ask Moscow to allow recovered soldiers to return to Ukraine,” the newspaper added.
The treatment of civilians turned out to be as problematic as the Swiss authorities in the current state, according to the country’s media.
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