Switzerland opens more than 50 cases regarding violation of sanctions against russia

Switzerland has launched an investigation into more than 50 cases of possible sanctions violations and has so far found violations in 15 of them, the country's government said in a statement, Reuters reports.

After russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Switzerland adopted sanctions similar to those of other Western countries, adopting new measures earlier this month. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) reported that the effective implementation of sanctions is a government priority, and that to date the agency has opened 56 proceedings regarding possible violations. However, about half of them were canceled, and fines were imposed on 15.

"The others remain under investigation," it was said.

The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs did not name the sectors where the violations were recorded, as well as individual companies that are under investigation.

Earlier this year, Switzerland said it had created a specialized team to investigate and enforce sanctions imposed by Bern after moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

It was also previously reported that the Council of States of the Swiss Parliament supported a proposal to strengthen measures to expel spies, especially russian intelligence agents.