According to a report by the Swiss public television station RTS, Russian spies are increasing their presence in Geneva, with unauthorized satellite dishes and espionage equipment being installed on Russian diplomatic buildings. The antennas, used for surveillance and communication interception, have raised concerns about espionage activities in Switzerland.
The Russian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva is located opposite the Palais des Nations. The complex is heavily secured with a high protective wall, surveillance cameras, and armed guards. While the mission is officially diplomatic, it is alleged that Russia has installed multiple satellite dishes and listening devices at its facilities, despite these installations not having canton authorization.
Satellite Antennas and Spy Equipment
According to Adrian Hänni, a historian and expert on secret services from the University of Graz, these antennas are clearly designed for espionage, rather than for routine diplomatic communication. Hänni points out that such equipment is unnecessary for regular diplomatic messaging and is specifically used to spy on electronic and satellite communications.
RTS compared current and archival images, confirming that the satellite dishes appear to be newly installed. The Russian diplomatic mission in Geneva has increasingly expanded its intelligence activities on Swiss soil, with Hänni describing Switzerland as a “hotspot” and a base for Russian spies operating throughout Europe.
Unauthorized Installations
The canton of Geneva’s Department of Territory confirmed to RTS that the Russian mission, as a diplomatic structure, enjoys certain privileges under international law. However, canton regulations on building permits remain applicable. Any satellite dish larger than 90 cm in diameter requires special authorization, but Russia has not received this approval. In fact, the canton has confirmed that the Russian mission submitted a request for such permits only in 2006.
Images from satellite data indicate the construction of one authorized antenna between 2006 and 2007, followed by several unauthorized installations between 2006 and 2024. In total, four antennas have been constructed without canton permission, likely making them illegal.
Russia’s Denial and Swiss Intelligence
The Russian embassy in Switzerland denies these allegations, calling them part of an “arbitrary attempt to demonize Russia.” In an official statement, the embassy reaffirmed that its diplomatic staff is focused solely on maintaining constructive cooperation with Swiss authorities amid current challenges.
However, the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) has reported that approximately one-third of Russian diplomats in Switzerland are believed to be spies. In recent years, several cases of Russian espionage have been revealed, including cyberattacks on high-security Swiss laboratories and sabotage operations carried out by Russian agents stationed between Geneva and Annecy, France.
The FIS, while confirming increased anti-espionage measures, remains restricted by the size of its operations. With over 420 staff members, only 60 are dedicated to counterintelligence, and it takes around 10 to 15 agents to monitor the movements of a single spy on Swiss territory.
In its 2024 report, FIS acknowledged that Switzerland remains a significant hub for espionage activities, and its counterintelligence efforts are less developed compared to other European nations.
