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SVP politician Peter Spuhler is Russia’s new honorary consul in Zurich
Russia has appointed the head of Stadler Rail and former National Councilor Senior Vice President Peter Spuhler as Honorary Consul of Russia in Zurich. The Russian embassy in Bern confirmed this to the Keystone-SDA news agency on Monday night.
Former SVP National Councilor Peter Spuhler becomes Honorary Consul of Russia. Image: keystone
The Russian embassy had received a verbal note from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA with permission to reopen the Russian consulate in Zurich and appoint Peter Spuhler as honorary consul, he said. Its consular district includes the cantons of Zurich, Schaffhausen, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, St. Gallen and Thurgau, the Russian Embassy in Bern announced.
Therefore, Russians in this area may turn to Spuhler in the future to gain the support of the Russian state in Switzerland. However, the Russian embassy did not want to reveal why the choice fell on businessman Spuhler. The embassy also left open information on when Spuhler would start his job.
EDA is moving forward
Initially there was confusion over the staff because the FDFA announced the name last Tuesday, but the Stadler Rail company from Bussnang in Thurgau said they knew nothing about the matter.
The Russian embassy had also responded to a request from the Keystone-SDA news agency last Wednesday that it did not want to provide any information, “until the necessary formal procedures for appointing Russia’s honorary consul in Zurich have been completed.” With the FDFA note verbale, the official process has apparently ended. The consulate has been closed since October 2018.
Stadler Rail and thus the patriarch of the Spuhler company have various connections with Russia. The FDFA appointed the sponsoring company for the grand opening of the new building of the Swiss representation in Moscow. In addition, some time ago the company won a large order from the Russian railway operator Aeroexpress for some 380 million euros. (sda)
