Switzerland, contrary to the statements of the US ambassador, cannot freeze additional Russian assets in the amount of 50 to 100 billion francs. About it reported Head of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) Helene Budliger-Artieda in an interview with the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
The official clarified that an estimate of 50-100 billion francs was cited by third parties as a possible sum of all Russian assets managed by Switzerland, while the country’s authorities do not disclose such data.
“Not all Russians are subject to sanctions, but only a small minority. Switzerland has frozen 7.5 billion francs, which is just over a third of the 21.5 billion euros frozen throughout the EU,” Budliger-Artieda explained the refusal to block all Russian funds in Switzerland.
She added that SECO has repeatedly informed the US and other partners of its readiness to consider all leads about what other assets need to be blocked. However, Berne never received any concrete information from the Americans.
Recall that in March, US Ambassador to Bern Scott Miller declaredthat Switzerland could block additional Russian assets in the amount of 50-100 billion francs.
