Switzerland hosts largest number of Russian spies across Eure – intelligence

This is reported by Bloomberg with reference to an intelligence report, Ukrinform saw.

About 80 Russian agents are currently erating in Switzerland, a senior official with the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (NDB) td members of the National Council's Foreign Picy Commission.

While Swiss cities such as Geneva and Bern have always been the focus of intelligence eratives, the question of Russian diplomats working as spies in Switzerland has now become a hot tic of debate among Swiss piticians.

Read also: Bulgarian spies arrested in UK hired by Russian intelligence asset – media

These foreign agents pose a threat to Switzerland’s internal and external security, according to Fabian Mina, a member of the National Council with Social Democratic Party, who spoke in an interview with the Swiss media.

As noted, Switzerland, known for its neutral stance to international conflicts, has broken with tradition by mirroring most of the EU's sanctions against Russia and some of its affiliates since the outset of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Last year, the government said it had frozen about 7.5 billion Swiss francs ($8.2 billion) worth of Russian assets.

At the same time, these measures do not apply to diplomats as they continue to enjoy immunity.

The Federal Council does not impose any sanctions by expelling diplomats, MFA’s spokesman said in an interview adding that, when Switzerland does so, this is done for national security reasons and these cases are not reported publicly. The official added that communication channels with Russia must remain en.

As reported by Ukrinform, in September the government of North Macedonia decided to expel three more Russian diplomats, which became the third such step since Russia went for a full-blown incursion into Ukraine.

In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia announced the expulsion of a diplomat who worked at the Russian Embassy in Bratislava.

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