“In Europe, Switzerland is one of the states with the highest numbers of Russian intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover, in part due to its role as a host to international organisations,” stated a press release on Switzerland’s Security 2023 report published on Monday.
The report warns that the threat to Switzerland has increased ever since it assumed membership of the United Nations (UN) Security Council this year. The peacemaking abilities of international organisations like the UN or the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has continued to decline and there are no signs of a stable new world order, it said.
“China and Russia want to transform the status quo of existing institutions, rules and norms,” warn the report’s authors.
Russia’s war against Ukraine will remain the focal point of Switzerland’s security environment. Swiss intelligence aims to prevent the movement of goods to Russia that could be used for sanctioned military activities. New regions like the Eurasian Economic Union, Turkey and India are now on the radar of intelligence officials because of strategic Russian procurement.
Wagner coup attempt
The abortive mutiny in Russia on Saturday has also captured the attention of the Swiss intelligence community.
“Our services have been monitoring the situation closely throughout the weekend,” said Christian Dussey, head of the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service, at a press conference on Monday. “We are now in a phase of de-escalation, but the rebellion led by Evgeni Prigojine and his Wagner group represents a significant development.”
But it is too early to pass judgement, he said, as many players are waiting to see how the tide will turn. Dussey made a comparison with the events of 1991 (the attempted putsch against Mikhail Gorbachev) and 1993 (Boris Yeltsin’s march on the Russian parliament). In both cases, the result was a clear strengthening of the state apparatus.
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.
Watches belonging to Michael Schumacher up for auction
This content was published on
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
This content was published on
St. Gallen singer Joya Marleen and Baschi from Basel were named artists of the year at the Swiss Music Awards 2024 on Wednesday night.
In Switzerland, Chinese dissidents now know they are not alone
This content was published on
After protests erupted in China, some dissidents in Switzerland found the courage to make their voices heard for the first time.
Russian spies pose increasing threat to international Geneva
This content was published on
Dozens of Russian spies are known by the Swiss authorities to be operating in Geneva, which is home to many international organisations.
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.