OREANDA-NEWS Swiss banks began to warn Russians about the closure of their accounts if they do not stop paying taxes to the budget of the Russian Federation, writes RBC with reference to Swiss lawyers working with such clients and a source in the Swiss banking sector.

"About ten people have applied to our law office, who have been unofficially called by bank employees with a warning that if they do not cease to be owners of companies located in Russia and paying taxes, the bank will have to close their account, but official actions have not yet followed after that," the newspaper quotes the managing partner of the Swiss Law Office Roman Kudinov's LEOLEX. According to him, the actions of banks are still selective. In addition, the legal bureau considers the actions illegal and plans to appeal them when "clients receive official written notifications." Kudinov also notes that banks allegedly explain this decision by the fact that Russian customers pay taxes to the state, "which destabilizes the situation in Ukraine." In addition, they are under pressure from the Swiss authorities, parliamentary parties and the country's State Secretariat for the Economy (SECO), which demand tougher control over the implementation of sanctions against Russia. As another Swiss lawyer told the publication, some clients of Swiss banks have already had their accounts blocked due to taxes.

A source in the Swiss banking sector told RBC that UBS bank could have sent letters with such a warning to some customers. The publication sent a request to Swiss banks. Credit Suisse (UBS acquires Credit Suisse, a credit institution in a crisis situation) did not comment on the current situation, other organizations did not respond to RBC's request.