Swiss reject US accusations of corruption over Russia sanctions
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.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/sp
Español
es
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.
Coercion still an issue in Swiss welfare system, report finds
This content was published on
The rights of people in vulnerable situations are sometimes disregarded within the Swiss social welfare system, according to a national research programme.
This content was published on
Viola Amherd has expressed her “deep shock” at the assassination attempt on Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday.
This content was published on
A man injured half a dozen people with knives, two of them seriously, before being arrested on Wednesday in northern Switzerland.
Switzerland to introduce flight passenger database
This content was published on
Switzerland plans to introduce a flight passenger database to collect and process personal data in a bid to combat terrorism and serious crime.
Government plans to invest over CHF16bn in Swiss rail network
This content was published on
The federal government intends to invest CHF16.4 billion ($18.1 billion) in railway infrastructure between 2025 and 2028, CHF2 billion more than for the current period.
Swiss to vote on pension reform and biodiversity in September
This content was published on
Swiss citizens will vote on occupational pension schemes and a biodiversity initiative on September 22, the Federal Council announced on Wednesday.
Ukraine peace talks: 50 countries have confirmed participation
This content was published on
To date, 50 countries out 160 invited delegations have confirmed they will attend the Ukraine peace conference, held in central Switzerland in mid-June, according to Swiss public radio, RTS.
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
US commission accuses Switzerland of hiding Russian assets
This content was published on
Swiss anti-corruption expert testifies to a US government commission that Swiss lawyers help Russian oligarchs hide funds.
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…
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.