Antennas were probably installed without cantonal authorization on the roofs of the buildings of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the UN in Geneva. The canton will go through diplomatic channels to request a position from the Russian Mission.
Supporting satellite images, RTS revealed Sunday evening in the program Focus the installation of several parabolic antennas since 2006. However, “the Russian Mission has submitted a request for roof antennas since 2006,” the Territorial Department indicated on Monday. Four antennas would therefore have been installed without authorization.
The canton recalls that foreign representations as well as international organizations having concluded a headquarters agreement with the Federal Council enjoy privileges, immunities and facilities in accordance with international law. This being said, they are required to respect cantonal legislation and file a request for building authorization for work.
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The Council of State will ask questions
He will invite him “to request a position from the Russian Mission,” the Territorial Department told Keystone-ATS on Monday. According to RTS, these communications facilities would be used for espionage operations.
An expert: “International Geneva is a magnet for spies”
The Russian response: it’s “demonization”
Asked by RTS, the Russian embassy indicated that it “strongly disagrees with such statements and considers them to be an additional attempt to arbitrarily demonize Russia and the Russians.” “We reaffirm our position that the diplomatic staff of our embassy is solely focused on the task of maintaining constructive cooperation with the authorities of the host country in the current difficult circumstances,” the press service of the Russian Federation clarifies.
The Federal Intelligence Service estimates in its 2024 report that “Switzerland remains a privileged area of action for Russian services”. In the 2023 report, the SRC indicated that at least a third of Russia’s diplomatic or administrative staff would work for intelligence, or around 70 people.
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