In an interview with Swiss public broadcaster RTS on Sunday, Marty said he had armed protection officers in his house for four-and-a-half months from the end of 2020.
His house is now equipped with surveillance cameras and a safe room with plain clothes police keeping an eye out nearby. Marty must wear a bullet-proof vest when he goes out in public.
During his career, Marty was a politician and prosecutor in the southern Swiss canton of Ticino.
From 1999-2011 he was a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In this capacity he conducted various inquiries such as allegations of secret CIA prisons in Europe and alleged organ trafficking in Kosovo.
The latter investigation was apparently the catalyst for the alleged assassination order from Serbia, which has never accepted the formation of an independent Kosovo.
“The threat apparently comes from certain circles of the Serbian intelligence services, who asked the underworld, professional killers, to liquidate me simply to put the blame on the Kosovars,” Marty told RTSExternal link.
Official reaction
Marty is also aggrieved that the Swiss authorities have not taken up the matter with Serbia. He says he had to write to the federal police office to force them into action.
“Anyone who engages in the search for the truth deserves not only protection, but also justice. They deserve to see that those who attempt to take their lives face prosecution. This cannot be tolerated,” he wrote in February.
On Monday, Serbian authorities denied Marty’s claims. “In these difficult times, such allegations cause inexorable damage to the reputation of the Republic of Serbia, its intelligence services, and those who carry out their duties in full conformity with the law,” read a statement signed by the Serbian ambassador to Bern.
Swiss federal police officers are now due to travel to Serbia at the end of this month in connection with the affair. But Marty is scathing about the apparent inaction of the attorney general’s office and the foreign ministry.
Both the foreign ministry and the Office of the Attorney General told RTS that they are in contact with each other and the federal police but declined to say what action they were taking beyond providing protection for Marty in Switzerland.
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.
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
Ex-prosecutor to lead UCI doping probe
This content was published on
The panel will be based in Lausanne, Switzerland, and known as the Cycling Independent Reform Commission. UCI President Brian Cookson said its aim will be to “investigate the problems cycling has faced in recent years, especially the allegations that the UCI has been involved in wrongdoing in the past – allegations which have done so…
This content was published on
Troops from Nato’s Kosovo force (Kfor) and ethnic Serb civilians were among the injured at a disputed border crossing on Tuesday. Switzerland has a contingent of 220 soldiers serving in Kfor, mainly providing logistical support. François Furer, spokesman for the Swiss Armed Forces International Command (Swissint), confirmed to swissinfo.ch that no Swiss were present during…
Switzerland contributes funding to contested Kosovo tribunal
This content was published on
Switzerland is supporting the Kosovo war crimes tribunal, but do local efforts to sabotage it mean that it is dead before it even begins?
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.