Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister has launched an official investigation into allegations that sensitive data from the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) was passed to Russian intelligence
through the cybersecurity firm Kaspersky. The probe follows a report by Swiss public broadcaster SRF, which cited a classified FIS document detailing unauthorized data transfers between 2015 and 2020.
According to SRF, the report suggests that the FIS may have used Kaspersky software to transmit data to Russian intelligence services, including the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency. The FIS was reportedly warned about this risk by other international intelligence agencies.
The defence ministry emphasized the importance of a reliable intelligence service for national security, especially amid today’s global instability. In response to the allegations, Pfister has ordered an independent administrative investigation to assess whether past recommendations and safeguards were properly implemented.
Pfister has already briefed the full Federal Council, relevant parliamentary bodies, and the Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO) about the situation.
The FIS has previously conducted three internal investigations into the cyber division's operations from 2015 to 2020. In 2021, the agency initiated a major reorganization of its cyber division, introducing stricter control measures, overhauled data procurement practices, and new leadership. A broader structural reform of the FIS was implemented in March 2024.
Kaspersky, the Russian cybersecurity company at the center of the controversy, has long faced suspicion over its alleged ties to the Kremlin. Many governments have already banned the use of its software due to espionage concerns.
The FIS criticized SRF for publishing details from the confidential report, arguing that doing so could severely impact the agency’s operational effectiveness. Photo bz Mike Lehmann, Mike Switzerland, Wikimedia commons.