Russian sanctions loopholes: Is Switzerland profiting from its 'neutrality'? | DW News

Is Switzerland doing all it can to implement sanctions on Russia?  And what are other western countries doing to prevent Russia from trading with the West?  According to a report in the Financial Times, some Swiss companies are using a loophole in Switzerland's sanctions legislation to circumvent restrictions and are continuing to trade in millions of dollars of Russian gold and oil. DW talked to Anastassia Fedyk, assistant professor of finance at Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.

#sanctions #russia #switzerland

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[critkid]

Switzerland was never neutral in history. Neutral means to play on no side. But they actually play on both sides - opportunism is the term to discribe switzerland.

[Lucasp]

Yeah…right…evidently on the matter of legal loopholes for questionable financial practices, Switzerland has a reputation.

[jaytee]

Yes, Switzerland benefits greatly from its neutrality. That is a purposeful loophole that they have in their laws.

[omidpourhossein]

in war the politicians give ammunition, the rich give the food the poor give their children...
when the war is over the politicians get back the leftover ammunition, the rich grow more food and the poor search for the graves of the children. Serbian saying

[TheRealBlueValhalla]

Switzerland has done well not taking sides so well you'd think Nestle, a Swiss company, could avoid human rights abuses and draining aquifers.

[johannbrandstatter]

How could anybody ever seriously question Switzerlands total commitment to make money, no matter what the circumstances are?

[freeminded]

Good. Imagine thinking countries aren’t allowed to decide their own laws.

[waltonsimons]

Oh gee, Switzerland being the money launderers of the world... again?

I never would've guessed...

[waynenorris]

Oh my gosh, I never would have guessed the holes in Swiss cheese were a sarcasm of the Swiss character.

[danielbautista]

When neutral you play both sides and almost always win.

[VINLAND_]

It would be good if journalists and commenters checked all the details before making such comments and pointing with their fingers onto others based on dangerous superficial knowledge.

1. Switzerland has a constitution and laws just like the US and most other countries do.

2. If Switzerlands status is there defined as "armed neutrality" and not to send any lethal weapons to any party at war, then we have to either hold up our constitution or hold a referendum to change our constitution.

3. Switzerlands neutrality has not been defined unilateral by the Swiss people, but was an agreement with our neighboring countries and signed by everyone in return for the guarantee that none of them will attack us.

4. So, if Germany complains, that they are not allowed to re-sell the ammo to Ukraine - then why did they buy it and signed these very agreement not to deliver it to a party at conflict?

5. If Germany is so keen to send the ammo to Ukraine (which they should do imo), why not just ignoring the contract with a private Swiss company but asking Switzerland to break it's constitution instead? What would cause bigger issues and what takes less time until the ammo arrives in Ukraine?

6. If manufacturers here where allowed to sell lethal weapons to anyone at any time, how about selling these things to Russia, Iran, China, Korea and so on? The same people would then accuse Switzerland again for doing so. All this based on their own moral standards which are not universal and should never be used for such decissions.

Conclusion:

In my opinion, Germany should just send the ammo and not buy from Swiss companies again in the future. I personally support every help needed for Ukraine, but it's just illusional to think Switzerland is the decisive factor when it comes to military aid for Ukraine.

Switzerland has other strenghts like the International Red Cross which has been found in Switzerland and has it's headquarters here. The Red Cross is in Ukraine since 2014 and helping with all humanitarian need and goods. It't not like the civilians and wounded would just need weapons, but they also need a lot of other things to win this war. Every country has it's strengths and "we" should all work together and help with the expertise "we" have and not getting against each other by thinking the one sending the most weapons is somehow superior to others.

And no, I'm not a partiot and you can dislike Switzerland as much as you want, but at least acknowledge the facts and take everything into consideration before judging.

[ShadowHawk]

that guy is pretty serious, you can tell because he said it 3 times.

[gagamba]

I'm confused. Why would you only interview a person in California and not a Swiss legal expert? This was a poorly produced segment.

[m.walther]

Great country, allways on the right side of the balance sheet. Their Russian customers will aprove, customer service is everything in Switzerland, the greatest money laundering outfit on earth.

[foilhat]

What makes a man turn neutral? Lust for gold? Power? Or were you just born with a heart full of neutrality?

[Tsuigius]

Keep Switzerland away from y'all conflict and war. Just let Switzerland be nuetral.

[bouji_]

Is India not a neutral country now? They do tons of business with Russia.

[kevinpk]

As a Swiss, I‘m extremely disappointed and angered by how our government is handling this whole situation. Be it from a sanction / financial standpoint or when it comes to supplying / allowing the supply of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. It‘s about time we rethink and reform our definition of neutrality and take a clear stance backed with the according concrete actions, no excuses. This should have happened already right after Russia started this complete shitshow…

[IncrediblyStupidName]

Switzerland is a landlocked country that is surrounded by the EU and NATO on all sides. If you want to apply pressure on them, it would be so easy.

[Blodhelm]

Isn't it always? Isn't that their whole identity?