Aktualisierte Sanktionsmeldung: Moldau
Executive Summary
The Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (WBF) published an update to Annex of the Ordinance on Measures concerning Moldova (SR 946.231.156.5) on August 11, 2025, expanding the sanctions list for Moldova-related destabilizing activities. This matters for Swiss financial intermediaries as it imposes immediate asset freeze and reporting obligations under the Embargo Act (EmbG) and Anti-Money Laundering Act (GwG), aligning Switzerland with EU measures to counter threats to Moldova's sovereignty amid regional instability. #
What Changed
- Updated Sanctions List: The WBF amended the Annex to include additional natural or legal persons, organizations, or entities subject to financial sanctions, effective immediately upon publication. - Financial Sanctions Reinforced: Mandatory asset freezes (sperre von Vermögenswerten), prohibitions on making funds or economic resources available (Bereitstellungsverbote), and reporting requirements to SECO for frozen assets remain core, mirroring EU Regulation 2023/888 updates. - No Change to Core Ordinance: The underlying Ordinance from June 28, 2023, is unchanged, but the Annex expansion triggers re-screening of existing relationships. #
What You Need To Do
- Screen Client Base
- Freeze and Report Assets
- AML Due Diligence
- Internal Controls
- Monitor Ongoing
Key Dates
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High – Immediate asset blocking and SECO reporting are mandatory with no grace period, risking FINMA enforcement (e.g., fines, reputational damage) for non-compliance; matters due to expanding geopolitical risks in Eastern Europe, potential for rapid list growth, and overlap with high-volume Russia/Ukraine sanctions regimes.
Who is Affected
Summary
Das Eidgenössische Departement für Wirtschaft, Bildung und Forschung WBF hat eine Änderung des Anhangs der Verordnung vom 28. Juni 2023 über Massnahmen betreffend Moldau (SR 946.231.156.5) publiziert.