Moscow responds to Swiss neutrality referendum result

Bern has shown it is no longer neutral by rejecting restrictions on unilateral sanctions, Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov says Switzerland has shown that it is “not a neutral state anymore” by rejecting a proposal to tighten the country’s neutrality rules, Russia’s Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov has said. Swiss voters on Sunday rejected the ‘Safeguard Swiss Neutrality’ initiative, which would have barred Bern from imposing sanctions on states involved in armed conflicts unless mandated by the UN. It would also have restricted cooperation with military alliances unless Switzerland faced a direct or imminent attack. In a post on X following the vote, Ulyanov said the result “simply proved that Switzerland is not strong enough to be really neutral and that neutrality is wishful thinking but not a principle of this country.” According to the provisional official final tally, 70.15% voted against the initiative, while 29.85% supported it. The proposal was rejected in every canton. The initiative was launched by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and the Pro Schweiz sovereignty movement. Its supporters argued that Bern had moved “dangerously close” to the EU and NATO, particularly since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, undermining Switzerland’s independence and credibility as a mediator.

Read more Why is the Swiss government opposing stricter neutrality rules? Switzerland has largely aligned itself with EU sanctions against Russia since February 2022. Moscow subsequently placed the country on its list of “unfriendly” states and has argued that Bern can no longer serve as a trusted neutral mediator. The Swiss government, however, maintains that adopting sanctions does not violate the country’s neutrality. Ahead of the referendum, the Federal Council argued that the existing policy gives Bern the flexibility to respond to international developments while safeguarding its security and independence. Switzerland’s neutrality has been enshrined in its federal constitution since 1848. The country is not a member of NATO but has cooperated with the US-led military bloc for decades, with ties expanding in recent years. Both the Federal Council and parliament had urged voters to reject the initiative, arguing that a more rigid neutrality policy would restrict Switzerland’s ability to respond to international crises.