GENEVA, December 1. /TASS/. Switzerland has frozen Russian assets worth 7.7 billion Swiss francs ($8.8 billion), Reuters reported referring to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of the country (SECO).

According to SECO, this a preliminary figure, which represents a slight increase from 7.5 billion Swiss francs ($8.4 billion) the Swiss government said it had blocked last year after the neutral country adopted European Union sanctions, the agency said.

SECO noted that it was difficult to give a precise figure due to new people being added or removed from the sanctions list, as well as legal cases to freeze or unlock further assets, Reuters added.

Despite its neutral status Switzerland, which is not a member of the EU, earlier supported EU sanctions against Russia imposed in connection with the special operation in Ukraine. In March 2022, the Russian government approved a list of foreign states and territories committing unfriendly actions against Russia, its companies and citizens. The Swiss Confederation was added to this list.