The Swiss voice in the world since 1935

Russian spying ‘beyond normal levels’, says Swiss foreign minister

swiss foreign minister ignazio cassis
Ignazio Cassis said he would make it clear to Russia what Switzerland would and would not tolerate. © KEYSTONE / ANTHONY ANEX

Reacting to reports about Russian spying in Switzerland, Foreign Affairs Minister Ignazio Cassis has pledged to raise the issue with his counterpart Sergey Lavrov next week.

Speaking to Swiss public broadcaster SRF on Monday, Cassis said that the level of espionage being conducted by Russia was “beyond the usual level of activity”, and that he would discuss the issue with Moscow’s foreign minister next week.

“We have already had various bilateral discussions this year, on various levels, in which we made it clear what Switzerland would not tolerate,” said Cassis. However, he also said that a balance must be found between “speaking plainly” and continuing to foster relations with Russia.

In recent weeks, he confirmed, the Swiss foreign ministry took the step of refusing to grant accreditation to several Russian diplomats. 

The Swiss foreign 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.

+ More on the Le Matin Dimanche/SonntagsZeitung report about Russian spying

Among other issues, Cassis was reacting to reports over the weekend claiming that every fourth Russian diplomat in Switzerland was a spy.

Last Friday, the Swiss Federal Intelligence ServicesExternal link (FIS) also confirmed another news report finding that in March, two Russian agents had been arrested in the Netherlands and expelled after a joint operation by Britain, the Netherlands and Switzerland. 

Citing unnamed sources, Swiss and Dutch papers had 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 a former spy.

Cassis did not comment in detail on the Spiez incident, saying that the FIS retained control over the precise details of the planned attack and that he was not fully informed.

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

TX Group discontinues print version of "20 Minuten"

More

20 Minuten: last Swiss free daily to stop being printed

This content was published on From the end of the year, there will no longer be a daily free newspaper in Switzerland: the TX Group is discontinuing the print version of "20 Minuten". Up to 80 full-time positions are to be cut in the editorial and publishing departments.

Read more: 20 Minuten: last Swiss free daily to stop being printed
Irregular migration halved compared to the previous year

More

Irregular migration to Switzerland halves year-on-year

This content was published on Irregular migration to Switzerland has decreased significantly. The figures from January to May show that only half as many illegal stays were recorded compared to the same period last year.

Read more: Irregular migration to Switzerland halves year-on-year
UNHCR to cut around 3,500 jobs worldwide

More

UNHCR to cut around 3,500 jobs worldwide

This content was published on The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is to cut around 3,500 jobs as a result of financial cuts linked in particular to US decisions. Hundreds of temporary contracts will also be cut, the UN agency said in Geneva on Monday.

Read more: UNHCR to cut around 3,500 jobs worldwide
One in four people in Switzerland is frequently stressed

More

Quarter of Swiss frequently stressed

This content was published on One in four people in Switzerland feels stressed often or almost always. Among the under-30s, the figure is as high as 40%.

Read more: Quarter of Swiss frequently stressed
The permafrost in Switzerland has thawed further

More

Permafrost in Switzerland continues to thaw

This content was published on The permafrost in the Swiss Alps is thawing faster and faster. The thawed top layers of permafrost have never been as thick as they were last year. This is shown by the latest data from the Swiss permafrost monitoring network Permos.

Read more: Permafrost in Switzerland continues to thaw

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR