How is Russia doing? – Swiss secret service: we are a “spy stronghold”

Vladimir Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine is high on the agenda of most Western intelligence services. Two examples: Great Britain publishes daily briefings on the war situation and the US apparently knew about the rebellion plans of the mercenary group Wagner a week ago. States also repeatedly expel diplomats.

So far, Switzerland has hardly played a role in public perception – at least not a pro-Ukrainian one. Especially at the beginning of the war, the Confederates attracted attention with their lax measures against Russia. After that, the actions of the EU were taken over bit by bit. With a significant delay, Switzerland entered the EU’s official “partner list” last Friday.

Switzerland was considered an “oligarch’s paradise”
Critics have long seen the Alpine country as an “oligarch’s paradise” with secret banks as a safe haven for the money of very wealthy Russians. According to estimates by the Basel Bankers Association, up to 200 billion Swiss francs from Russian customers were stored in Switzerland when the war began. A fraction of that – some 7.2 billion euros – has so far been “frozen”.

According to the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (NDB), the title “Spy Hotspot” is now being added. “Due to its role as a host country for international organizations, Switzerland is one of the countries in Europe where most members of the Russian intelligence service are deployed under diplomatic camouflage,” the FIS reported on Monday in its “Security Switzerland 2023” status. report. Three points stand out.

1. Diplomat or spy?
Of the 220 people working in the Russian missions in Geneva and Bern, about a third probably work for Russian intelligence services – there are similar estimates for Austria. That would be about 70 people. While other countries have expelled members of Russia’s intelligence service disguised as diplomats, the numbers in Switzerland have remained stable.

According to the FIS, Switzerland is one of the countries in Europe where most members of the Russian intelligence service are deployed. This is also due to its role as a host country for international organisations.

The FIS also sees the war opening up new ways for states to infiltrate. Escape movements would provide an opportunity to smuggle agents. However, the annual report provided no evidence for this.

2. Front companies buy guns
Russia is apparently trying to buy weapons from Switzerland through “secret channels”, the FIS writes. Companies in the states of the Eurasian Economic Union – for example Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan – are said to be “increasingly appearing as presumed final consumers of goods” which then go to Russia.

Turkey and India are also used in this way by private individuals. Attention has now been paid to this in order to prevent this in the future. The arms industry must also be “sensitised”.

3. China does things differently
The FIS describes the threat to Switzerland from espionage as high. “It continues to come mainly from state actors and in particular from the intelligence services of Russia and China.”

China has significantly fewer agents masquerading as embassy staff in Switzerland. Chinese intelligence agencies likely rely more heavily on other forms of cover-ups. “Their staff usually disguise themselves as scientists, journalists or businessmen,” the report said.

And what about Austria?
Russia was once again prominently represented in the domestic “Constitutional Protection Report 2022” of the Austrian Directorate for State Security and Intelligence (DSN). Here too, the bottom line was: Austria remains a playground for Russian spies.