EU arbitrariness against Swiss citizen

Unilateral coercive measures against Colonel Jacques Baud

Statement by the editors of “Swiss Standpoint”

(26 December 2025) There are few analysts worldwide with the expertise of Swiss Colonel Jacques Baud. In his research, he traces global developments in a well-founded and documented manner and makes forecasts. He benefits from his comprehensive training, his wealth of experience as a neutral conflict expert in international peacekeeping missions and his worldwide contacts.

Jacques Baud has travelled to many different conflict regions on behalf of Switzerland, the UN and NATO, analysing the situations there and publishing his findings. His reputation makes him a sought-after interview partner internationally. His dozen or so non-fiction books in various languages have never been the subject of any legal complaints.

“Swiss Standpoint” will therefore continue to publish his articles and invite him to give lectures.

Now, without notice, the EU Council’s “Foreign Affairs Committee” has placed him on a new “sanctions list”. Since 16 December, Jacques Baud has been unable to access his bank account, arbitrarily depriving him of his livelihood. He is prohibited from crossing EU borders. As he lives in Brussels, this means he is no longer allowed to travel to Switzerland.

With its actions, the European Union is in flagrant violation of the principles of the rule of law (right to a fair hearing, no punishment without law, etc.). Jacques Baud has not committed any offence. He has merely exercised his right to freedom of opinion and expression, as enshrined in the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, among other places (see box). The sanctions imposed on him are purely politically motivated.

The editorial team of “Swiss Standpoint” calls on the relevant EU authorities to respect Jacques Baud’s fundamental human and civil rights.

The Swiss authorities have a duty to defend the rights of their citizens abroad. The editorial team of “Swiss Standpoint” calls on the Federal Council to take swift and decisive action on behalf of Swiss citizen Jacques Baud.

Frauenfeld, 21 December 2025

Recommended Link: https://weltwoche.ch/daily/dass-politische-meinungsaeusserungen-mit-repressiven-massnahmen-beantwortet-werden-halten-wir-fuer-inakzeptabel-offener-brief-zum-fall-jacques-baud-an-schweizer-bundesrat/, 19 December 2025

(Translation “Swiss Standpoint”)

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 19 Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation Article 16 – Freedom of Expression and of Information 1     Freedom of expression and of information is guaranteed. 2     Every person has the right to form, express, and impart their opinions. 3     Every person has the right freely to receive information to gather it from generally accessible sources and to disseminate it. European Convention for the Protection of Human rights and Fundamental Freedoms Article 14 – Prohibition of discrimination The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.