Switzerland says 'very probable' Russian assets would be frozen this week

Cassis told Swiss television station RTS on Sunday that "it is very probable" the Swiss government "will decide to do so [freeze assets] tomorrow", RT reported. "But I cannot anticipate decisions not yet taken," he added. The president said that while Switzerland has supposedly remained committed to its policy of neutrality, "that does not prevent us from calling a spade a spade."

Swiss President Ignazio Cassis did not rule out freezing of Russian assets by financial institutions in the country amid Moscow's offensive in Ukraine, RT reported.

Cassis said such a scenario was likely despite Switzerland's long-standing neutral status.

Advertisement

Cassis told Swiss television station RTS on Sunday that "it is very probable" the Swiss government "will decide to do so [freeze assets] tomorrow", RT reported.

"But I cannot anticipate decisions not yet taken," he added.

Advertisement

Also Read | George Soros likens Russian military operation in Ukraine to Nazi siege of Budapest

The president said that while Switzerland has supposedly remained committed to its policy of neutrality, "that does not prevent us from calling a spade a spade."

Advertisement

Neutrality has been the main pillar of Swiss foreign policy since 1815 and the country officially remained neutral in both World War 1 and World War 2. Switzerland is obliged, however, to implement sanctions imposed by the United Nations.

Switzerland previously announced on Thursday that it would sanction three Russian banks and introduce travel restrictions on 361 Russian State Duma officials.

Advertisement

Cassis claimed that Switzerland "did not directly adopt sanctions" against Russia in 2014 "for reasons of neutrality," but that the government had now "sharpened its response", RT reported.

Also Read | Rising stakes in Russian-Ukrainian war push up Crude prices

Advertisement

"The EU sanctions issued yesterday are to be integrated into this ordinance in the form of anti-circumvention measures, and individual measures will be tightened, particularly in the financial sector," Cassis said.

Advertisement