Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill spied on Switzerland: Swiss media
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow is an outspoken ally of the the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved
Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill, a strong supporter of Moscow’s decision to invade Ukraine, spied on Switzerland for the Soviet Union in the 1970s, according to media reports.
Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill, a strong supporter of Moscow’s decision to invade Ukraine, spied on Switzerland for the Soviet Union in the 1970s, according to media reports.
The French-language Le Matin Dimanche and the German-language SonntagsZeitung newspapers cited declassified archives as evidence the religious leader had worked for the KGB, the Soviet Union’s main security and intelligence agency.
Kirill reportedly carried out espionage activities while living in Geneva as the official representative of the Moscow Patriarchate at the World Council of Churches (WCC).
The mission of Kirill, whose code name was “Mikhailov”, was also to influence this council, which had been infiltrated by the KGB in the 1970s and 1980s.
The Russian Orthodox Church has refused to comment on Kirill’s alleged espionage activities in Geneva, according to the reports, while the WCC says it has “no information” on the subject.
Switzerland abstains from vote on Palestinian bid for full UN membership
This content was published on
On Friday, Switzerland abstained from the vote at the General Assembly on granting the Palestinians new rights at the United Nations (UN).
Protein in abdominal fat could help shape obesity treatment
This content was published on
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
This content was published on
The accelerated procedure, now out of its test phase, has resulted in a significant drop in applications from North African countries.
This content was published on
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
This content was published on
Around ten climate activists briefly blocked the A2 motorway near the northern entrance of the Gotthard tunnel on Thursday.
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.
Read more
More
Special tribunal should prosecute Russia’s crimes in Ukraine, says Swiss lawmaker
This content was published on
Peace is not possible in Ukraine without justice, says Swiss parliamentarian Damien Cottier, who works at the Council of Europe.
Switzerland not ready to hand Russian assets to Ukraine
This content was published on
Confiscated Russian funds cannot be used to rebuild Ukraine without a clear legal basis for such a move, says Swiss foreign minister.
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.