Yves Rossier, Switzerland’s ambassador to Moscow, has been summoned by the Russian foreign ministry for an explanation over “unfounded accusations” that Russian spies tried to hack a Swiss laboratory related to the Skripal case as well as the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Rossier was told that such “confrontational rhetoric” could damage his country’s relations with Russia, the Russian foreign ministry said. The Dutch ambassador was also summoned, concerning a “campaign to fan the obsession with spying”.
On Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Ignazio Cassis said the level of espionage being conducted by Russia was “beyond the usual level of activity”, and that he would discuss the issue with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov next week.
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Russian spying ‘beyond normal levels’, says Swiss foreign minister
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Following reports about Russian spying in Switzerland, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said he will raise the issue with Sergey Lavrov.
In recent weeks, Cassis confirmed, the Swiss foreign affairs ministry had refused to grant accreditation to several Russian diplomats. Reports over the weekend claimed that every fourth Russian diplomat in Switzerland was a spy.
The ministry also said it had summoned the Russian ambassador on Sunday to demand an “immediate end to spy activities on Swiss territory”. The Russian embassy has dismissed the allegations.
Citing unnamed sources, Swiss and Dutch papers said the suspected agents were on route for the Spiez laboratory near Bern, which analyses chemical and biological weapons, including the nerve agent Novichok, the same that Britain says Russia used to try to murder former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury in March.
The two Russian agents were arrested in the Netherlands and deported to Russia, Dutch sources said.
They are also suspected of an attempted cyberattack against the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Lausanne, a Swiss official source said on Saturday. WADA suspended the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) in 2015 in connection with the scandal of the state doping system discovered in Russia.
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Swiss probe Russians over alleged World Anti-Doping Agency hack
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Swiss prosecutors are investigating whether Russian agents tried to hack the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Protein in abdominal fat could help shape obesity treatment
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The study analysed fat cells from different locations in the body, and found that those in the abdomen have unique properties.
North African asylum claims fall after rapid Swiss processing
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The accelerated procedure, now out of its test phase, has resulted in a significant drop in applications from North African countries.
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The artist's song "The Code" focuses on their journey as a nonbinary individual. It is one of the favourites to win this year's contest.
Swiss climate activists block vehicles near Gotthard tunnel
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Around ten climate activists briefly blocked the A2 motorway near the northern entrance of the Gotthard tunnel on Thursday.
Watches belonging to Michael Schumacher up for auction
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Schumacher's family is auctioning off eight rare watches from his collection in Geneva. The Christie's auction will take place on Monday.
Joya Marleen and Baschi named best solo acts at Swiss Music Awards
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St. Gallen singer Joya Marleen and Baschi from Basel were named artists of the year at the Swiss Music Awards 2024 on Wednesday night.
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Russian agents ‘tried to spy on Swiss chemicals lab’
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Media report: two Russian agents suspected of trying to spy on a Swiss laboratory were arrested in the Netherlands and expelled early this year.
Salisbury nerve attackers reportedly had Swiss connection
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Two Russian suspects in the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter reportedly travelled to Geneva at least six times just before the attack.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says a Swiss laboratory has found that the nerve agent used to poison former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Britain could be a substance never produced in the Soviet Union or Russia. The Swiss lab has declined to comment on Lavrov’s claims.
Switzerland strongly condemns UK ‘Novichok’ nerve gas attack
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The fact that the so-called “Novichok” nerve gas was used for the first time is of particular concern, the spokeswoman said. She added that the incident was all the more worrying as it follows a series of similar violations of international law in recent years. According to her, Switzerland reiterates that it is essential for…
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