Browder also opposed the idea of returning the confiscated funds to sanctioned Russians involved in the Magnitsky affair. His goal is to isolate Russia financially from the rest of the world and “Switzerland is part of the problem”, he said in an interview with Swiss CH-media groupExternal link on Monday.
Vladlen Stepanov, Denis Katsyv and Dmitry Klyuev are the protagonists of the infamous Magnitsky affair, which drew much criticism towards Switzerland. If the Swiss decide to hand back that money, “the country would find itself at the centre of an international crisis”, Browder warned.
Switzerland “must become part of the civilised world when it comes to financial matters”, he said. Browder was already successful in July, when, after his initiative, the US Helsinki Commission demanded the sanctioning of three Swiss citizens, including former Swiss attorney, Michael Lauber.
However, the Swiss foreign ministry has rejected the US commission’s corruption accusations, saying that the “claims that Switzerland is doing less than other countries and that it is still harbouring funds from sanctioned individuals without freezing them are unfounded”.
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Bill Browder: Swiss record on fighting money laundering is ‘shocking’
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No quick decisions should be made when discussing the confiscation of Russian assets for the reconstruction of Ukraine, says foreign minister.
How could frozen Russian assets be reused to benefit Ukraine?
What should be done with Russian assets seized in Switzerland? Can they be handed over to Ukraine or would that violate the rule of law and undermine faith in banks? Would confiscating assets to pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine be compatible with Swiss neutrality? Are there other diplomatic options to assist with Ukraine’s post-war recovery? The…
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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.