State-owned agency RUAG had sought to bypass a home ban on weapons provides through the use of a German intermediary
Swiss Protection Minister Viola Amherd has agreed to an exterior inquiry after government-owned protection contractor RUAG tried to promote tanks to a German middleman in order that they may very well be delivered to Ukraine.
The investigation was introduced on Monday night, hours after Amherd participated in a listening to by the Swiss parliament’s Safety Coverage Committee. Lawmakers requested data on how a lot Amherd had identified concerning the proposed deal, which the Swiss authorities in the end blocked final month to guard the nation’s neutrality.
The affair revolves round an estimated 96 Leopard 1A5 predominant battle tanks, which RUAG bought in 2016 and shops in Italy. The Swiss agency sought to promote them to the unique German producer, Rheinmetall, to be refurbished and despatched to Ukraine. The deal was initially introduced in February, however the Federal Council concluded in late July that the phrases would breach Swiss legislation and refused to authorize the switch.
The probe will concentrate on the aborted deal in addition to the administration of RUAG, nationwide media have reported. Some Swiss lawmakers have recommended that the federal government ought to have a consultant on the corporate’s board of administrators to make sure higher oversight.
RUAG CEO Brigitte Beck stepped down two weeks in the past after the federal government refused to approve the deal, having held the place for lower than a yr.
The corporate mentioned an inside investigation had discovered no wrongdoing by Beck, however added that the controversy required a change in management. It additionally cited the CEO’s public criticism of Switzerland’s coverage of neutrality as contributing to the choice.
Western-made armor was a part of the navy support despatched to Ukraine in preparation for its summer season counteroffensive towards Russia. Kiev’s makes an attempt to interrupt by Russian defensive strains have so far been unsuccessful, whereas modest territorial positive factors have come at a excessive value, in keeping with Moscow and Western media.
Russian Protection Minister Sergey Shoigu reported on the finish of July that Ukraine had misplaced 10 Leopard tanks amongst greater than 2,000 items of heavy weaponry destroyed for the reason that counteroffensive was launched in early June.
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