Espionage Switzerland investigates suspected Russian agent

The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland is investigating a suspected Russian agent and two co-accused. The men are alleged to have violated several laws. The agent, a Russian diplomat, has been arrested.

The Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) authorized the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) to prosecute in this sensitive case, as the OAG informed the Keystone-SDA news agency on Saturday. It confirmed information from the "Tages-Anzeiger".

The OAG, together with the Federal Office of Police (Fedpol) and the police, had already carried out house searches in several cantons prior to the decision. The men are alleged to have violated the War Material Act, the Embargo Act and the Goods Control Act.

The OAG has asked the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) to waive the immunity of one of the three accused persons. Diplomatic immunity lapsed when the person definitively left the country. An arrest warrant has been issued for this person. If they return to Switzerland, they could be arrested.

According to the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper, the Federal Intelligence Service had been monitoring a Russian representative stationed in Bern. The accredited diplomat is said to have been an agent who wanted to procure weapons and other potentially dangerous material. The agent left Switzerland under diplomatic cover after Switzerland had requested this from Russia.

According to the report, the case was handled discreetly. The Russian ambassador in Bern was not summoned to the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The matter was dealt with through other channels, the FDFA told the newspaper. It did not provide any further details.

SDA