Government against joining "oligarchs" task force

Monday, 18 September 2023 08:00

The Federal Council does not want Switzerland to join the international task force set up to track down the money of Russian oligarchs.

Economy Minister Guy Parmelin told the Sunday press that membership is not in Switzerland's interest.

He said “In an increasingly polarised world, Switzerland has an interest, as a neutral country, in maintaining a certain restraint.”

The National Council is due to vote next week on a motion - put forward by the Green party - on whether or not to join the task force.

Switzerland is regularly criticised by its western allies over its somewhat hesitant implementation of sanctions against Russian oligarchs.

More from Bitesize News

Geneva blindsided by car tax chaos

The Geneva government has been blindsided by the effect of the new car tax and are now scrabbling to explain why.
Govt backs foie gras

The Federal Council has come down firmly on the issue of foie gras.
Fairmont to close for 3 yrs

The Geneva luxury Fairmont Hotel on the Quai Wilson will close its doors for renovation next month. The work could last for up to three years.
Long term plans for atom waste dump

The time frames are immense – but plans have been revealed on a new nuclear waste storage site, which, by law, has to be viable for a million years.
A12 closed after snow triggering crash

A section of the A12 autoroute running between Vevey and Châtel-St-Denis was closed over night following a multicar pile up, caused by the snow.
Woman seeks life saving savior

A young woman in Geneva has launched a search for the woman who saved her life when she was swept away by the Rhone last spring.