Russia’s Diplomatic Cover: A Threat to Europe and a Challenge for Switzerland

In the chessboard of international relations, every move is consequential. Take, for instance, the murkiness surrounding Russia’s clandestine operations in Europe, facilitated in part by diplomatic cover. The veil of diplomatic immunity accorded to officials is a cornerstone of international diplomacy, meant to protect envoys from the host country’s laws so they can conduct their duties without fear of harassment. But what happens when this cover becomes a mask for sinister activities, like those allegedly carried out by Russia’s infamous Unit 29155?

Recent reports indicate that Unit 29155 has been involved in high-profile poisonings, assassinations, and coup attempts across Europe and the United Kingdom. Members of this unit are often registered as diplomatic or administrative staff, stationed primarily at Russia’s diplomatic representations in Geneva and Bern, Switzerland. This is a subversion of diplomacy at its most brazen and dangerous, and Switzerland, traditionally a neutral power, finds itself entangled in a particularly challenging situation.

The Swiss Paradox

According to Swiss intelligence, a significant portion of Russian diplomatic staff in the country is active in intelligence operations. Switzerland’s dilemma is palpable. On the one hand, the nation serves as a hub for various international organizations and diplomatic missions, providing an open platform for dialogue and negotiation. On the other hand, this openness is seemingly exploited by Russia to cover its illicit operations.

Anatoly Chepiga and Alexander Mishkin, both suspected members of Unit 29155, are illustrative examples. Accused of poisoning the Skripals in Salisbury, they were not just any low-ranking spies but were registered as staff at Russian diplomatic missions in Switzerland. Under these covers, they traveled extensively through Europe, ostensibly to meet with other operatives or receive orders.

The Diplomatic Quagmire

For European authorities, the challenge lies in how to address this abuse of diplomatic privilege. Expelling or arresting these individuals risks sparking a diplomatic crisis with Russia — a nation already showing scant regard for international norms. The United Kingdom expelled 23 Russian diplomats in the wake of the Skripal poisoning, and Germany followed suit by expelling two diplomats linked to a murder on its soil. Yet, these are but mere slaps on the wrist for a nation apparently committed to using whatever means necessary to achieve its objectives.

Time for a Reckoning

So, what’s the path forward? For starters, nations need to collectively rethink the immunities granted under the guise of diplomatic cover. Diplomatic immunity should not be a cloak for nefarious activities that jeopardize the very fabric of international trust. Collaborative intelligence-sharing among European nations could help in identifying and tracking the movements of suspected agents. This, coupled with a robust international response that includes sanctions and diplomatic pressure, might serve as a deterrent. Some examples of recent reforms or challenges to diplomatic immunity are:

• The UK Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that diplomats cannot hide behind immunity to exploit workers, in a victory for campaigners against modern slavery.
• Mexico passed a new security law in 2020 that strips foreign agents of diplomatic immunity and requires foreign officials in the country to share any intelligence they have obtained with Mexican officials.
• Geoffrey Robertson, a prominent human rights lawyer, called for reforming diplomatic immunity in 2016 to end people being above the law. He suggested that immunity should be confined to situations where there is a real danger that the embassy functions will be put in peril.

Switzerland, for its part, faces a moral and diplomatic conundrum. Maintaining its long-standing neutrality while hosting international bodies makes it an attractive location for diplomatic cover. Yet, it must reconcile this with its responsibility to uphold international law and safeguard its own sovereignty.

It’s high time for the international community to address this exploitation of diplomatic norms. Russia’s alleged actions threaten not just individual lives but the foundational tenets of diplomacy. Silence or inaction is not an option; the stakes are far too high. Whether it’s reforming the rules that govern diplomatic immunity or taking coordinated action to expel operatives, we need a concerted and transparent effort to unmask this new form of warfare hiding in plain sight.

The chessboard is set, and the pieces are moving. The question is, who will checkmate whom in this high-stakes game of diplomatic intrigue?