Government Switzerland lifts certain sanctions against Syria
Switzerland has lifted certain sanctions against Syria in light of the change of government in Damascus. In doing so, it is joining the EU. On the other hand, further assets associated with the ousted President Assad have been frozen.
07.03.2025, 16:04
07.03.2025, 18:27
SDA
Switzerland lifted the measures against the Syrian energy and transportation sectors, as announced by the Federal Council on Friday. Certain financial services and banking relationships are also permitted again. The suspension of sanctions is intended to support a peaceful and orderly political transition process in Syria.
The remaining provisions of the Ordinance on Measures against Syria, including further financial and goods sanctions, are not affected by this decision. The easing of sanctions also means that no frozen funds will be released, the statement continued.
Assets of Assad frozen
On Friday, the Federal Council also decided to impose an additional freeze on the assets of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his entourage. According to the Federal Council, this measure is intended to ensure that no funds belonging to the former Assad government can flow out of Switzerland, regardless of developments in the area of sanctions.
With an additional freeze, the Federal Council wants to ensure that these assets, which may have been acquired unlawfully, remain frozen regardless of developments in the area of sanctions. It should also be possible to freeze any illicitly acquired assets of five other persons in connection with the former Syrian government.
Switzerland adopted sanctions against Syria for the first time on May 18, 2011, as the Federal Council wrote. The sanctions against Syria were imposed due to the violent repression of the civilian population by the Syrian armed and security forces and were directed against the government of Assad, who was ousted from power on December 8 last year.
The Federal Council is following developments in Syria closely and reserves the right to make further changes to the sanctions regime. This also includes the possibility of reintroducing measures that have been lifted, it said.
