Thirteen cases of Swiss soldiers who fought in Ukraine are currently pending before military justice. All are citizens who have decided to take up arms for Ukraine against Russia, according to its spokesperson.
It must be said that Swiss citizens are not authorized to perform military service abroad. Unless they have dual nationality or if they are on a mission authorized by Bern, like the Swiss Guard in the Vatican. Goal: preserve the neutrality of Switzerland. If they go to fight abroad without authorization from the Federal Council, they risk up to three years in prison.
But national councilor Jon Pult (PS/GR) would like to introduce an exception to military law to provide amnesty for those who left for Ukraine. This is what he is asking for in a parliamentary initiative. Because according to him, these soldiers “fought for freedom, democracy, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity”. And therefore defend the fundamental values of Switzerland.
Jon Pult emphasizes that Switzerland has no obligation to punish these citizens: “Neutrality only prohibits Switzerland from intervening militarily as a state in conflicts,” he explains.
-Any other story from Thomas Aeschi (UDC/ZG). For him, “the ban on mercenaries is closely linked to neutrality. Every Swiss citizen is subject to military service and must serve in the Swiss army – and not in foreign countries which pursue their own interests. Punkt Schluss.
Already in 2021, former national councilor Stéfanie Prezioso (Together on the Left/GE) had called for the rehabilitation of some 200 Swiss who fought in the French Resistance during the Second World War and “who contributed to liberating Europe from Nazism. » UDC national councilor Lukas Reimann called for the annulment of the criminal convictions handed down against Swiss nationals who fought IS during the war in Syria. The National legal committee will soon look into these three interventions.
