Switzerland imposes new sanctions on Russia over “military aggression in Ukraine”
GENEVA
The Swiss Federal Council on Wednesday issued further sanctions against Russia, adopting the European Union’s latest measures in response to Moscow’s “military aggression in Ukraine”.
“In response to Russia’s ongoing military aggression against Ukraine and its ongoing destabilizing measures that undermine Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and security, the EU issued a statement on April 16.
Switzerland is not part of the EU, but is economically closely intertwined with its neighbors.
In late February last year, then-President Ignazio Cassis announced that Switzerland would enact the same EU financial sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin and other officials over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) has started to adapt the annexes of the corresponding ordinance within the scope of its responsibility and, among other things, approved the sanctioning of around 200 other people and organizations.
4 political parties in the Council
The Bundesrat consists of seven members, each head of a government department, drawn from four different major parties, also known as “government” and compared to a cabinet in other countries.
The sanctions came into effect at 6 p.m. local time (1700 GMT) on Wednesday.
The sanctions include bans on product testing, advertising, market and opinion research services, as well as new controls and restrictions on the export of various goods.
These include dual-use goods, goods for military and technological improvement or for the development of the defense and security sector, or goods that contribute to increasing Russia’s industrial capacity.
In addition, the government will extend the export ban on aerospace goods to engines for planes and drones.
Likewise, Switzerland will ban new investments in the Russian mining sector.
The Federal Council has also passed a new provision on the arms embargo.
“Switzerland can now grant exemptions from the arms embargo for demining equipment used in Ukraine on a case-by-case basis,” the Council said.
“When the export license is granted, it is ensured that the material is used lawfully and as intended.”