The issuance of visas to diplomats and employees of the Russian Embassy in Switzerland is uneven, according to a statement by Igor Popov, Russian Consul General in Geneva, made public on May 14.
Popov described the situation as unstable: “The mechanism works, but intermittently. That is, some kind of batch of visas is issued, and we, accordingly, also issue them. Then there is a pause again, the applications accumulate.”
He added that Switzerland complies with its obligations to issue visas for representatives of the Russian Federation participating in international events in Geneva.
Separately, Popov stated on May 13 that Swiss authorities are engaged in efforts to locate assets belonging to Russian individuals and legal entities. He noted that Bern has joined all anti-Russian sanctions, including European packages as well as American and Canadian measures. The consul warned this causes misunderstanding among Russians and cautioned that citizens with funds or property in Switzerland risk losing them. The consulate continues to receive complaints from citizens regarding issues with their accounts.
