Sanctions database

The ban does not apply to:
– Swiss nationals, nationals of an EEA member state and natural persons who have a temporary or permanent residence permit in Switzerland or an EEA member state;
– Deposits required for non-prohibited cross-border trade in goods and services between Switzerland and the Russian Federation, between Switzerland and the EEA, and between the EEA and the Russian Federation,
After consultation with the responsible departments of the FDFA and the FDF, SECO may grant exceptions to the prohibition for deposits that are required: a, to avoid cases of hardship; b, for humanitarian purposes or for evacuation purposes; c, for civil society activities that directly promote democracy, human rights or the rule of law in the Russian Federation; d, for the fulfillment of official purposes of diplomatic or consular missions or an international organization; e, to safeguard Swiss interests,

Diplomatic, medical and humanitarian flights are exempt from the measure.

1/ The prohibitions and authorization requirements under Articles 4 and 5 do not apply to goods and services intended for:
a. exclusively humanitarian and medical activities carried out by an impartial humanitarian organisation, public health emergencies, the urgent prevention or containment of an event which is likely to have a serious and significant impact on human health and safety or the environment, or the management of natural disasters ;
b. medical or pharmaceutical purposes;
c. the temporary export of items for use by news media;
d. software updates;
e. use as everyday communication devices;
f. ensuring cyber security and information security for natural and legal persons, entities and bodies in Russia, with the exception of their government and the companies directly or indirectly controlled by it (cancelled from 31.08.2022); or
g. the personal use of the following items by natural persons traveling to Russia or by family members traveling with them, provided that the items are owned by the persons concerned and are not intended for sale: 1. personal items, 2. household items, 3. Vehicles or work equipment.
2/ SECO may grant exceptions to the prohibitions for activities intended for the following civilian purposes or civilian end recipients: a. cooperation between Switzerland and the RF in exclusively civil matters; b. intergovernmental cooperation on space programs; c. the operation, maintenance and reprocessing of fuel elements, the security of civil nuclear capacities and civil nuclear cooperation, particularly in the field of research and development; d. maritime security; e. civilian, non-public electronic communications networks and Internet services that are not owned by an organization controlled by a government entity or in which a government entity has a greater than 50% interest (amended 27.04.2022); f. use by any entity owned, solely or jointly controlled by any legal person, entity or body incorporated or incorporated under Swiss law or the laws of a partner; g. diplomatic representations of Switzerland or its partners; h. ensuring cyber security and information security for natural and legal persons, organizations and bodies in the Russian Federation, with the exception of their government and the companies directly or indirectly controlled by it (added 31.08.2022).

The prohibitions do not apply to actions that are necessary for the official activities of diplomatic or consular missions or international organizations as well as for hospitals or educational institutions based in the designated areas or to ensure the security of the existing infrastructure,