Russian diplomats are packing their bags across Europe. Germany, Italy, France and Spain have already expelled Kremlin embassy staff – as a first, rapid reaction to the war crimes committed by Russian soldiers in Ukraine.
Last but not least, the drastic measure serves to protect themselves: Many of these diplomats do not spend their days maintaining bilateral relations or stamping passports, but rather gathering information to keep Moscow up to date. In short: you are spying.
The Bundesrat is taking a different approach than most European countries. Bern has decided not to send a single pseudo-diplomat home for the time being – regardless of the associated risk: the Federal Intelligence Service (NDB) admitted to Blick that around a third of the staff of the Russian representations accredited in this country identified themselves as employees of the secret service, or at least identified them is suspected. “In addition, there are informants, sources, officers under unofficial camouflage and those who only travel to Switzerland for a brief assignment,” writes the FIS.
Threat from Russia increases
A third of the accredited staff is an impressive group: According to the foreign department, 220 Russian diplomats were registered in Switzerland last year. Of these, a good 70 were spies. These are likely to be stationed in Bern and Geneva, the headquarters of numerous international organizations.
Research shows that just a week ago, the Swiss intelligence service warned that these agents should be left unmolested. What’s more, the FIS fears that Moscow could now even step up its espionage activities in Switzerland.
In a confidential analysis available to SonntagsBlick, the FIS states: “As a result of the mass expulsion of intelligence officers under diplomatic camouflage and the issuance of entry bans, the European states are sustainably reducing the threat from Russia.”
The threat to Switzerland, it goes on to say, “will very likely remain the same or increase if Russia transfers intelligence activities that are no longer possible in the European environment to Switzerland or uses Switzerland as a starting point to expand the administrative measures of the other Schengen states bypass”.
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NDB sees no change in the threat
The Confederation as a safe haven for Putin’s snoopers? In this case, the federal government would soon find itself in international difficulties, the FIS reports: “Switzerland could therefore come under pressure to join the administrative measures taken by other European countries to prevent it from being misused by the Russian intelligence services as a gateway to Europe.”
It seems implausible that in the tightly networked world of the FIS secret services, the FIS develops this scenario without prior notice from partner services.
The official statements are poor. Spokeswoman Isabelle Rappo writes on request that the FIS has found “no change in the threat from banned intelligence in Switzerland from Russia” since the beginning of the war. Neither the FIS nor the Federal Chancellery wanted to comment on the risk of the sanctions being circumvented via Switzerland and the resulting pressure from European states on the Federal Council.
Foreign and security politicians are now calling for a change of course. FDP President Thierry Burkart (46) demands that “those who are proven to be working in the intelligence service should have their diplomatic immunity lifted and that they be de facto expelled”. According to the Aargau Council of States, this would be a clear sign that illegal activities are not tolerated either in Switzerland or against Ukraine.
Left and right agree
Werner Salzmann (59), SVP parliamentarian and President of the Security Policy Commission of the Council of States, sees it similarly: “Diplomats who can be proven to be spying must be expelled. That applies to diplomats from all countries of origin.” Salzmann excludes other representatives of foreign countries, in particular those who work for the International Red Cross or the World Health Organization. A general expulsion would “definitely rule out” Switzerland as a location for peace negotiations, he fears.
The Left agrees with this consideration. “A peace policy needs these channels, even if you can only condemn the atrocities of a warring party,” says Green National Councilor Sibel Arslan (41, BS).
What is decisive, however, is the majority in the state government. It is she who decides whether embassy staff will be expelled or not.
The CH Media newspapers reported that Defense Minister Viola Amherd (59, center) wants to tackle the Russian agents harder. A majority of her colleagues did not listen to her this week. But that could change quickly. Moscow’s spies are likely to be a topic in the Bundesrat again soon.
