Swiss colonel recalled from OSCE over suspected leak to Russia

A senior Swiss Army officer assigned to the Swiss delegation at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna has been suspended and recalled to Switzerland following allegations that he may have passed sensitive information to the Russian delegation.

The report was first disclosed by Swiss public broadcaster SRF.

The officer in question, a colonel with more than two decades of experience in Switzerland’s Ministry of Defence, had previously held several prominent international postings. He served in Vienna as part of Switzerland’s OSCE delegation until mid-2024. According to multiple informed sources, the colonel was quietly transferred back to Switzerland several months ago, amid internal concerns that he may have handed over a document to Russian officials during the summer of 2024.

Responding to SRF’s inquiry, the Swiss Ministry of Defence confirmed awareness of the allegations and acknowledged that the officer had been recalled from Vienna in late 2024 as a result. “The Ministry is aware of the accusations that led to the employee’s return to Switzerland at the end of 2024,” the statement said.

The move has generated controversy within Swiss military and diplomatic circles. Some insiders have criticised the disciplinary action as excessive, arguing that it stemmed from a single incident. They acknowledged that the colonel did indeed give a document to the Russian delegation, but added that the same document was subsequently shared with the OSCE itself just a few hours later.

Nevertheless, the case is now the subject of a broader investigation. SRF reports that, in addition to an internal Ministry of Defence inquiry, Swiss intelligence services are also examining the matter. Furthermore, the military justice system has become involved, as it holds jurisdiction over any potential offences committed by military personnel.

The nature of the document handed over and the implications of its early disclosure to Russia remain undisclosed.

By Tamilla Hasanova