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The prohibitions do not apply to goods and services that are required for the official activities of diplomatic or consular representations of Switzerland or its partners in the Russian Federation or international organizations.
After consultation with the responsible departments of the FDFA and the FDF, SECO may grant exceptions to the prohibitions for humanitarian purposes.
As from 09.09.2022
After consultation with the responsible departments of the FDFA and the FDF, SECO may approve exceptions to the prohibitions if this is necessary for:
a. medical or pharmaceutical purposes with an end use of a non-military nature;
b. humanitarian purposes or for evacuations; or
c. Switzerland’s exclusive use to fulfill its maintenance obligations in areas subject to a long-term lease agreement between Switzerland and the Russian Federation.
1. Prohibitions do not apply for crude oil and petroleum products transported by sea if these goods are only transported through Russia and are not owned by Russia.
2. Switzerland imports Russian crude oil and petroleum products from EU member states. In order to take into account the complex transitional periods foreseen by the EU, exceptions are envisaged in Switzerland for Russian crude oil and petroleum products that were legally imported into an EU member states.
End of grace period: 05.12.2022 05.02.2023
The prohibition does not apply to the sale, delivery, transfer and export of banknotes denominated in Swiss francs or an official currency of a member state of the European Union, provided these are required for:
a. personal use by natural persons traveling to Belarus or their close relatives traveling with them; or
b. the fulfillment of official purposes of diplomatic or consular representations or international organizations in Belarus.
Prohibition does not apply to Swiss nationals, nationals of an EU member state and natural persons who have a temporary or permanent residence permit in Switzerland or an EU member state.
The prohibitions do not apply if the founders or beneficiaries are Swiss nationals or nationals of an EEA member state or have a temporary or permanent residence permit in Switzerland or an EEA member state.
After consultation with the responsible departments of the FDFA and the FDF, SECO may grant exceptions for services that are necessary for:
a. humanitarian activities such as providing or facilitating the delivery of relief, including the delivery of medical supplies and food, the transportation of humanitarian workers and related relief or evacuation;
b. civil society activities directly promoting democracy, human rights or the rule of law in the Russian Federation.