BERLIN (AP) — Switzerland’s top intelligence agency says Russia continues to have dozens of spies disguised as diplomats at its embassy in Bern and its mission to the United Nations in Geneva, making the Alpine nation a hot spot. for Russian espionage activities in Europe.
The NDB spy agency said in its annual report, released on Monday, that while Russia’s intelligence activities in Europe and North America have been weakened by the expulsion of Russian agents posing as diplomats following the Skripal incident in 2018 and the invasion of Ukraine last year, their numbers have remained stable in Switzerland.
“Of the approximately 220 people accredited as diplomatic or technical-administrative staff in diplomatic and consular representations in Geneva and Bern, at least a third are probably still active for Russian intelligence agencies,” the report said.
“In all of Europe, Switzerland is one of the states in which the most Russian intelligence personnel are deployed under diplomatic cover, in particular because of its role as a host country for international organizations,” the NDB said.
While China is also said to have dozens of spies in its diplomatic missions in Switzerland, their number is significantly lower than that of Russia, the agency said.
He said China is more likely to have spies posing as scientists, journalists and businessmen.