Unveiling the Swiss Shield: Countering Strategic Corruption in Ukraine through Swiss Intervention

• In Event: Approaches to crime prevention

Abstract

Corruption is a dangerous phenomenon that threatens any country in the world. Recently, there has been growing attention to a new type of corruption, in particular, strategic corruption, which poses an even greater threat to global stability and security. Strategic corruption is corrupt practices organized by representatives of one state against another as part of a broader national strategy. As a rule, the perpetrators are individuals who accumulate significant capital and secretly seize control over the economic infrastructure of another country, often through illegal means.
Given the growing attention to the phenomenon of strategic corruption, it is necessary to study its mechanisms and manifestations. Having this in mind, the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation in 2022 stands out as a vivid example illustrating the mechanisms of strategic corruption. In this case, Russian oligarchs were actively involved in destabilizing the economic situation in Ukraine, using not only direct military intervention but also tactics such as information campaigns and economic destabilization measures.
In the context of the ongoing Russian invasion, the fight against strategic corruption is becoming a key strategy to deter the aggressor. Understanding the dynamics of this type of corruption will allow, in particular, the external partners whose financial systems within their jurisdictions are widely used by the oligarchs of the aggressor country to preserve their capital to build a proper and effective corruption prevention system. Switzerland, which is a prime example of such a financial hub, reportedly possesses approximately 150-200 billion CHF belonging to Russia. Exploring options such as asset freezes, asset transfers to the country affected by the aggression, and other innovative strategies are becoming necessary to understand how Switzerland can contribute to countering strategic corruption, particularly in mitigating the influence of Russian oligarchs in Ukraine.

Author

• Andrii Biletskyi, University of Zurich