Switzerland has expanded its list of sanctions on Russia by including the Wagner private military group and the state news agency, RIA. This move comes as Western
allies continue to implement bans aimed at isolating Russia from the global economy. The Swiss Department of Economic Affairs, Education, and Research (EAER) released a statement on Thursday, justifying the sanctions by stating that Wagner was being targeted for its active involvement in Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, while RIA was being sanctioned for disseminating pro-government propaganda and disinformation.
By adopting the sanctioning of these two organizations, Switzerland is strengthening the effect of the EU’s measures, according to the EAER statement. Switzerland broke its neutrality status quo shortly after Russia’s war on Ukraine began by adopting the EU’s sanction package against Russia. Swiss President Alain Berset emphasized the seriousness with which the country is taking the implementation of sanctions, saying that Switzerland is doing everything that can be done to enforce them.
Switzerland also updated its stance on broadcasters RT Arabic and Sputnik Arabic, which the EU placed under a broadcasting and advertising ban on April 10. The EAER clarified that the broadcasting of the two channels would not be banned in Switzerland, but advertising on the two channels is now forbidden.
The move by Switzerland to expand its sanctions list comes as Russia is facing growing pressure from Western allies. Russia showed surprising resilience to unprecedented Western sanctions in the first year of the war, but cracks started to appear after President Vladimir Putin last month conceded that the restrictions could deal a blow to the country’s economy.
The Wagner group has been linked to Russia’s military involvement in conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, and Libya, and has been described as a mercenary group that operates with the backing of the Russian state. The group’s involvement in conflicts around the world has been criticized by Western countries, and its inclusion on Switzerland’s sanctions list is likely to be seen as a significant move.
The inclusion of RIA on the sanctions list is also significant, as the state news agency is widely seen as a mouthpiece for the Kremlin. The agency has been accused of spreading disinformation and propaganda in order to support the Russian government’s agenda, and its inclusion on the sanctions list is likely to be seen as a blow to Russia’s efforts to influence international opinion.
Switzerland’s decision to expand its sanctions list is likely to be welcomed by Western allies, who have been calling for a united front against Russia. The move comes as tensions between Russia and the West continue to escalate, with NATO and Russia conducting military exercises in close proximity to each other’s borders.
Overall, the expansion of Switzerland’s sanctions list is likely to be seen as a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Western allies. The move sends a clear message that Western countries are willing to take tough measures in order to isolate Russia from the global economy, and highlights the growing pressure on Russia to change its behavior. Photo by Jürg Vollmer / maiak.info Reusse, Wikimedia commons.