Switzerland has frozen CHF 99 million in Syrian funds
Published: Wednesday, Dec 11th 2024, 11:00
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Switzerland has frozen Syrian assets worth around CHF 99 million. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs confirmed a corresponding media report on Wednesday at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency.
The "Neue Zürcher Zeitung" reported on this. The Federal Council issued the ordinance on measures against Syria on May 18, 2011. At the time, Switzerland joined the sanctions imposed on Syria by the European Union (EU). These were imposed due to the violent repression of the civilian population by the Syrian armed and security forces.
As long as the EU sanctions against Syria remain in place, Switzerland can also maintain its sanctions, according to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco). Switzerland is following the situation closely, including developments in the EU.
There is comparatively little money from the Assad regime in Swiss bank accounts. One reason for this, in addition to the sanctions in place since 2011, is the withdrawal of Swiss banks. According to the newspaper report, they had already withdrawn from the once flourishing business with Syria in the noughties.
Sanctions against Assad minister
At the beginning of the week, Switzerland added three ministers of the Assad regime to the list of sanctioned persons. They are accused of being partly responsible for the violent repression of the civilian population in Syria, the statement continued. Among other things, they are banned from entering the country.
Last March, the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland charged Rifaat al-Assad, an uncle of Bashar al-Assad, who has since been ousted in Syria, with war crimes and crimes against humanity. He is alleged to have been responsible for the massacre in the Syrian city of Hama in February 1982, in which between 10,000 and 40,000 people lost their lives.
©Keystone/SDA
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