Swiss People's Party Says Anti-Russian Sanctions Violate Constitution: 'Switzerland is Neutral'

Earlier in the day, Switzerland adopted the seventh package of sanctions against Russia that includes a ban on import of gold and gold products.

The adoption of anti-Russian sanctions violates Switzerland's Constitution, Swiss People's Party, also knows as Democratic Union of the Centre (UDC), stated on Wednesday.

"The introduction of sanctions violates the neutrality of the country, and, consequently, its Constitution. The Constitution stresses that Switzerland is neutral. We are against sanctions," UDC press secretary Andrea Sommer said.

The statement was made shortly after the Swiss Federal Council announced that the seventh package of sanctions against Russia had been given a green light.

"...the Federal Council imposed further sanctions against Russia on 3 August in line with the EU’s latest sanctions on gold and gold products. The measures come into force at 6pm on 3 August," the council said. The latest sanctions also include an asset freeze on Sberbank.

Last week, a Swiss bank also froze a personal account of Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Gennady Gatilov.

According to the Russian permanent mission to the UN office, the fact that Switzerland lost its neutrality did not only affect its political and economic relations with Russia but also daily life of diplomats in Geneva.

"The situation is also escalated by artificial obstacles in the daily life of our diplomatic mission. A number of banks, insurance and car maintenance companies, with which we had long-standing partnerships, decided to abandon the contracts they had with us, while openly saying the reason - because we are from Russia. Even the personal account in the local bank of the Russian permanent representative in Geneva, which was used, among other things, to cover medical expenses, was frozen," the mission told Sputnik.

Switzerland has adopted seven packages of sanctions against Russia that include an embargo on Russian oil supplies, import of caviar, seafood, coal, timber and cement, among others. Switzerland prohibited support for Russian entities in public ownership and registration of trusts for Russian nationals or residents.

The sanctions were imposed in response to Russia's special military operation to de-Nazify and demilitarize Ukraine and protect the Donbass population.

Neutrality, one of the main principles of Swiss foreign policy, dictates that Switzerland must not be engaged in any armed or political conflicts between other nations. Swiss President Ignazio Cassis reiterated earlier this year that the laws of neutrality in the country are based on the Hague agreement principles, which include “no participation in wars; international cooperation but no membership in any military alliance; no provision of troops or weapons to warring parties and no granting of transition rights."