Swiss reject US accusations of corruption over Russia sanctions
The US Helsinki Commission cast doubts on the functioning of the Swiss judiciary.
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The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has rejected the corruption accusations of the US parliamentary commission concerning the return of money to a sanctioned Russian individual.
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Suiza rechaza las acusaciones de corrupción de EE.UU. por las sanciones a Rusia
The United States Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, had asked the US government to sanction former Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber and two other former federal employees for money laundering.
The allegations put forward in the Magnitsky case concerned a Russian tax scandal and the three Swiss citizens were accused of returning money to a Russian person under US sanctions. The Helsinki commission also spoke of corruption and cast doubts on the functioning of the Swiss judiciary.
The TamediaExternal link media group reported on Thursday that the FDFA expressed its disappointment with the US commission’s statement, adding that Switzerland “used the appropriate diplomatic channels to communicate its position to the US authorities”. The FDFA also said 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.”
The department representatives also assured that the separation of powers is respected in the Alpine country and that they have blocked CHF7.5 billion ($8.5 billion) due to sanctions against Russia and Belarus.
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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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