Switzerland imposes sanctions against Wagner PMC

Switzerland has imposed sanctions against the Russian para-military company Wagner Group and news agency RIA FAN.

On April 14, the EU sanctioned the Wagner Group for its active participation in Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. The Wagner Group is a Russia-based military organisation which, under the leadership of Yevgeniy Prigozhin, serves as a tool of Russian hybrid warfare. While its legal nature is unclear, the Wagner Group forms part of a complex network of global companies (operating in a range of sectors including aviation, security, technology, commodity trading, financial services and influencing activities) which are linked through overlapping ownership structures and logistics networks, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Swiss government website.

At the same time, the EU sanctioned the Russian news agency RIA FAN for its dissemination of pro-government propaganda and disinformation. Switzerland is now also adopting sanctions against these two organisations, thereby reinforcing the impact of the EU's measures.

Furthermore, on April 10, the EU imposed a broadcasting and advertising ban on television channels RT Arabic and Sputnik Arabic. Both channels play a significant role in the Russian government's systematic international campaign of media manipulation and falsification of facts.

On March 25, 2022, the Federal Council stated that it is more effective to counter untrue and harmful statements with facts rather than to ban them outright. Therefore, while these two media outlets will not be blocked in Switzerland, there will be a ban on advertising them.