Switzerland may lift anti-Russian sanctions with support for the neutrality initiative in the referendum on September 27

Brief retelling from RIA II

At a referendum on September 27 in Switzerland, the issue of tightening the principle of neutrality will be considered, including a ban on following sanctions not approved by the UN Security Council.

If the initiative is supported in a referendum, Switzerland may lift anti-Russian sanctions.

The Swiss Federal Council opposed the extension of the principle of neutrality at the constitutional level.

GENEVA, September 25 - RIA Novosti. Switzerland may lift anti-Russian sanctions if the initiative to tighten the principle of neutrality is supported in a referendum on September 27, writes Politico.

The question of whether to introduce into the constitution measures to tighten the principle of Swiss neutrality, including a ban on following sanctions not approved by the UN Security Council, will be put to a referendum on September 27. The initiative was taken by the Swiss People's Party (UDC), which has a parliamentary majority.

“A vote in favor would effectively deprive Switzerland of the ability to impose sanctions against Russia without the approval of the UN Security Council, in which Moscow has veto power,” the media indicates.

In addition, such a referendum result would prohibit Bern from cooperating in the military sphere with alliances such as NATO, unless Switzerland itself was attacked or faced an immediate threat, the newspaper notes. Now Bern retains the right to independently determine approaches to the implementation of its broader policy of neutrality and, ultimately, has the sovereign right to change or abandon this status, the media writes.

“Although Switzerland is prohibited from participating in interstate wars or providing military support, the country’s government has the right to independently decide whether to impose economic sanctions and whether to cooperate with military alliances without joining them,” the publication points out.

The Swiss Federal Council had previously opposed the principle of confederal neutrality being extended at the constitutional level, recommending that citizens vote against the initiative.

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova stated that Swiss neutrality “bends” where it is beneficial, noting that in the 1940s it was on the side of Berlin, and today it is leaning towards Kyiv and Brussels.