ISTANBUL

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned Swiss Ambassador to Moscow Krystyna Marty Lang to protest Bern’s decision to develop a legal basis to use frozen Russian assets for reparations in war-torn Ukraine.

“It was emphasized that the Russian side strongly condemns this step by the Swiss authorities, which grossly violates the fundamental principles and norms of international law regarding state immunity,” said a statement by the ministry.

The statement further said Switzerland’s encroachment on Russian state property “under the cover of any contrived ‘reparation mechanism’ will be nothing more than theft at the state level.”

“It was noted that in the event of the practical implementation of such plans by Bern, retaliatory measures from the Russian side will be inevitable,” it concluded.

Last Thursday, the Swiss parliament adopted five motions calling on the government to develop a legal basis for confiscating frozen Russian assets in the country and then transfer them to Ukraine to be used for reparations.

“The Federal Council must take measures to develop the necessary legal bases at international level,” the parliament said in a statement.