Switzerland’s highest parliamentary security oversight body has sharply criticized the government for insufficient measures against foreign espionage, according to Bluewin.
The annual report of the parliamentary audit delegation states that the country is increasingly becoming a hub for foreign intelligence activities, posing a direct threat to national security. Russian diplomatic missions in Bern and Geneva are under particular scrutiny, as experts believe they serve as cover for GRU and FSB operatives, similar to practices in other European countries.
Parliamentarians are urging the Federal Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take stronger measures to prevent Switzerland from becoming a center of intelligence activity.
According to Swiss media, federal authorities continue to allow entry to numerous individuals suspected of espionage, despite warnings from counterintelligence agencies. Last year, the Federal Intelligence Service recommended denying permits for 71 applications from foreign diplomatic missions—more than twice the number of the previous year. By comparison, in 2021, before Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, only one such recommendation was recorded. Thirty of these warnings specifically concerned the accreditation of new embassy staff. However, in many cases, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not follow these recommendations, allowing suspected agents to operate in the country without consequence.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs justifies its caution by citing the risk of reciprocal measures. Officials fear that a strict policy toward Russian diplomats could lead to the closure of the Swiss embassy in Moscow. This is particularly sensitive because Switzerland remains one of the last Western countries with a full diplomatic presence in Russia and continues to act as the protecting power for Georgia. Nevertheless, the parliamentary oversight body insists that protecting sovereignty must take precedence over diplomatic concerns.
