In February, Switzerland bought 18.9 tonnes of gold from Russia via the London precious metals market. Among them could be gold related to human rights violations.
Keystone / Martin Ruetschi
Switzerland imported unprecedented amounts of gold from Russia in February this year, according to a Swiss NGO that is campaigning for greater transparency in the gold sector. That’s despite sanctions imposed because of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
This content was published on
3 minutes
Keystone-SDA/ds
Italiano
it
Una ONG svizzera denuncia le importazioni di oro russo
“Despite sanctions, Russian gold is entering Switzerland that may be linked to human rights violations in Sudan as well as co-financing the war of aggression against Ukraine, which is against international law,” said Christoph Wiedmer, co-director of the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP).
In February, Switzerland bought 18.9 tonnes of gold from Russia via the London Precious Metals Market. Among them could be gold linked to human rights violations.
The NGO is concerned that the Russian gold ending up in Switzerland could include gold acquired by Yevgency Prigozhin, the head of Russia’s notorious Wagner Group. The paramilitary group has been crucial to Moscow’s foreign military campaigns, including in Ukraine and in Sudan, where violent clashes between two factions competing for power have triggered dramatic evacuations in recent days.
“In recent years, the Wagner troops have been supporting authoritarian regimes in Sudan, Chad and Central Africa,” says the NGO in a statement. “In return for military support, Wagner receives economic benefits, in Sudan, for example, access to gold deposits there.”
The paramilitary group reportedly arrived in Sudan in 2017 at the invitation of then-President Omar al-Bashir. It set up Meroe Gold, a Prigozhin-controlled company, which was later sanctioned by the United States, to run its operations and explore gold resources in the African nation.
Like the EU, Switzerland has placed the Wagner Group on its sanctions list.
Establishing whether illicit Russian gold reached Switzerland is not an easy task. In March 2022, the Federal Administrative Court ruled that companies don’t need to clarify the origins of their gold or their suppliers. The Society for Threatened Peoples has appealed that decision arguing that the public has a right to this information.
“Big question marks around imports of Russian gold could be solved, and reputable gold refiners would not need to fear this transparency,” according to Wiedmer.
The Swiss Association of Precious Metal Manufacturers and Dealers has stated in the past that its members do not touch Russian gold. Swiss refiners typically argue that they are transparent with whom they need to be – customs authorities, for example – but consider that specific details such as which specific mines they use to source gold could compromise competitiveness.
What factors should be taken into account when inheriting Swiss citizenship abroad?
Should there be a limit to the passing on of Swiss citizenship? Or is the current practice too strict and it should still be possible to register after the age of 25?
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
Swiss federal prosecutor bemoans shortage of investigators
This content was published on
The Swiss Office of the Attorney General complains of unresolved shortage of investigators that hinder its efforts to prosecute serious criminals.
ECHR condemns Swiss failure to protect woman from violence
This content was published on
Switzerland did not provide a woman with sufficient protection against her partner who had been violent in the past, rules the ECHR.
This content was published on
In Switzerland, 2.2 million people are affected by non-communicable diseases, partly because people are not eating a balanced diet.
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
Swiss court rules against gold trade transparency: NGO
This content was published on
A Swiss court ruled in favor of trade secrecy for gold refiners despite concerns dirty gold is finding its way to Switzerland.
This content was published on
Switzerland’s refineries are top recipients of gold mined at industrial sites in Africa but they are not keen to share the details.
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.