Switzerland voices concern over Kremlin move on Nestle's Russian operations
Swiss authorities say they are concerned by Russia's forced administration of Nestle's Russian business and are seeking to have the order overturned.
The Swiss government has expressed concern over Russia's decision to place Nestle's Russian operations under forced administration, saying it is pursuing diplomatic efforts to reverse the move.
The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) said the forced administration had been ordered by decree on September 17. The Kremlin has described the seizure of the foodmaker's business in Russia as being for "political reasons".
In a statement, SECO said it was "concerned about the forced administration of Nestle's Russian operations". The secretariat and the Swiss foreign ministry have been coordinating closely with Nestle on the matter for several weeks and are extending support through diplomatic channels.
"The goal of Switzerland's support is to enable Nestle to present its position to the Russian authorities and to work toward having the forced administration revoked," SECO said.
The Swiss government's intervention underscores the diplomatic dimension of the dispute, with Bern seeking to protect the interests of one of its largest companies while navigating its relations with Moscow.