Sanktionen: Die Schweiz weitet ihre Sanktionslisten betreffend Russland und Belarus aus
AI Analysis
The Swiss Federal Council expanded sanctions lists against Russia and Belarus on December 12, 2025, adopting changes from the EU's 19th sanctions package to align Swiss measures with EU restrictions. This matters for Swiss financial institutions as it imposes immediate asset freezes, transaction bans, and reporting obligations on newly listed entities, strengthening efforts to counter Russia's military-industrial complex and shadow oil fleet while preventing sanctions evasion.
Key dates
- 29 October 2025
- - Prior expansion decision (related 18th EU package adoption)
- 30 October 2025
- - Entry into force of October measures (export restrictions, RDIF transaction bans)
- 13 December 2025 Deadline
- - Measures enter into force; immediate implementation required
- 31 December 2025
- - Extension of certain derogations (e.g., Russia investment withdrawals)
Suggested considerations
- Immediate screening: Review client lists, transactions, and assets against updated SECO sanctions lists (published by WBF) for matches to 22 persons, 42 entities, 116 vessels, 45 export-controlled firms, 5+4 banks, and 8 third-country firms.
- Asset freezing: Block and freeze any matching assets/funds; prohibit making available.
- Transaction halts: Cease dealings with listed banks, entities, vessels, or sanctioned goods/services.
- Reporting: Notify SECO of frozen assets, blocked transactions, or existing business relationships immediately; conduct additional due diligence on suspicions per Art. (FINMA guidelines).
- Ongoing monitoring: Update compliance systems for dynamic lists; train staff on shadow fleet risks and third-country evasion.
What changed
- - Asset freezes and prohibitions: 22 natural persons and 42 companies/organizations added to asset freeze and prohibition on making funds/assets available lists.
- Shipping restrictions: 116 new vessels (primarily Russian shadow fleet tankers evading oil price caps) subjected to comprehensive purchase, sale, and service bans.
- Export controls: 45 new companies (including in third countries) under stricter export controls to block deliveries of critical goods to Russia's military-industrial sector.
- Financial transaction bans: Five Russian banks and four branches of Russian banks in third countries banned from transactions, especially those using Russian payment systems; eight third-country companies also banned for undermining sanctions purpose
Compliance impact
Urgency: Critical - Effective immediately (13 Dec 2025), with no grace period for asset freezes/transaction bans, exposing non-compliant firms to severe penalties amid FINMA's active enforcement on sanctions (type: enforcement). This escalates existing Russia/Belarus regimes, targeting evasion vectors like shadow fleets and third-country facilitators, demanding urgent system updates given the volu
Who is affected
Related regulations
References
AI-generated analysis. May contain errors or omissions — verify with the original FINMA source before acting. Full disclaimer.
What the FINMA said
Der Bundesrat hat die Sanktionslisten betreffend Russland und Belarus am 12. Dezember 2025 ausgeweitet. Die Schweiz übernimmt damit diverse Änderungen, welche die EU im Rahmen ihres 19. Sanktionspakets beschlossen hat.
Published by FINMA . Read the full notice at the source for the authoritative text.