Switzerland reports a “large number” of Russian spies on its soil

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has heightened great-power rivalry and made Switzerland, home to many international organizations, a hub for espionage, according to Swiss intelligence. “Russia has destroyed the rules-based peace order in Europe”notes the Confederation’s Intelligence Service (SRC) in its annual report published on Monday, June 26.

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Intelligence services spot a trend “towards a bipolar world order, marked by the systemic rivalry between the United States and China”. Consequently, “foreign espionage activities, mainly Russian and Chinese, still pose a high threat to Switzerland”according to the report.

Spies “under diplomatic cover”

Due, among other things, to its role as host State hosting several international organizations, including a large number of UN agencies, “Switzerland is among the European countries in which the largest number of members of the Russian intelligence services are deployed under diplomatic cover”.

“Of the approximately 220 people accredited as diplomatic or techno-administrative staff in the Russian missions in Geneva and Bern, probably at least a third still work for the Russian intelligence services”, said Christian Dussey, the head of the Swiss intelligence services. Switzerland’s mandate on the UN Security Council since January “highlights the threat posed by espionage to the Swiss” working on Security Council files, according to the report.