Trading looted commodities could be war crime, says attorney general
Swiss Attorney General Stefan Blättler has warned Swiss commodity trading firms dealing in grain, coal and other commodities stolen from Ukraine that they could face prosecution.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/reuters/jdp
Español
es
Comerciar con productos saqueados podría ser un crimen de guerra
“Commercialising looted raw materials could constitute a war crime,” Stefan Blättler, who became attorney general on January 1, wrote in Le Temps newspaperExternal link on Wednesday.
While this would be unprecedented, he said that beyond war crimes committed in Ukraine, there are also certain offences committed a considerable distance from an ongoing conflict that could have a direct link with it. He wasn’t aware of any convictions so far, but he said Swiss prosecutors were already conducting criminal investigations.
More
More
Commodity trading in Switzerland, explained
This content was published on
Our daily lives depend on it, yet commodity trading is an opaque business. Here’s how Switzerland came to play an important role in this industry.
Switzerland is one of the most important commodity trading centres in the world. An estimated 900 companies, including big traders like Trafigura, Glencore, Mercuria and Vitol, are based in the country. According to the Swiss Trading and Shipping Association, the industry accounts for 35,000 jobs and 4% of gross domestic product in Switzerland.
Some three-quarters of Russian crude oil and oil products are managed in Switzerland. The country also serves as a hub for Russian and Ukrainian grain and vegetable oil trading. Specialised banking services providing credit to traders along with shipping companies fill another important piece of the trading system.
The sector is known for little transparency, making it difficult to trace the flow of commodities and their origins. At the end of June, the Swiss government saidExternal link it wanted to gather more specific data on the commodity trading sector, which until now hasn’t been recorded as a separate activity.
More
More
Traders with Swiss links continue to buy and sell Russian oil
This content was published on
A handful of traders with strong connections to Geneva have reportedly increased their Russian oil shipments, says Le Matin Dimanche.
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.
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 trading hub adapts to new wartime reality
This content was published on
After Switzerland joined EU sanctions targeting Russia, its commodities trading sector is having to face up to new economic realities.
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.