Initiator of the "neutrality initiative", former Swiss minister Christoph Blocher answers to a journalist during the handover of around 140,000 citizen signatures to the Swiss Chancellery of a popular initiative "neutrality initiative" aims to largely prohibit Switzerland from entering into defence alliances and participating in sanctions, in Bern on April 11, 2024.Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

Switzerland’s neutrality vote puts Russia sanctions on the line – POLITICO

by · POLITICO

Voters in Switzerland will decide in a referendum Sunday whether to enshrine a stricter definition of the country's centuries-old neutrality into the constitution.

A “yes” vote would effectively prevent Switzerland from imposing sanctions on Russia unless they were approved by the United Nations Security Council, where Moscow has veto power. It would also bar Bern from cooperating militarily with an alliance like NATO unless Switzerland itself came under attack or faced an imminent threat.

Russia has openly backed the initiative.