Officials say a Russian man, Vitaly Kaloyev, who lost his wife and children in an air disaster, is being held by Swiss police over the killing of the air traffic controller on duty the night of the crash.
A spokesman for the Russian embassy in Berne said Swiss police had confirmed Kaloyev's identity to them after arresting him on Wednesday, a day after the Danish-born flight controller was stabbed to death outside his home.
Police have said that Kaloyev denies the charge.
"We received official confirmation from Swiss authorities this morning that this in fact involves Mr Kaloyev and that he does indeed hold a Russian passport and is a Russian citizen," spokesman Ingo Petrov said on Monday..
"We have also received official permission to visit Mr Kaloyev and talk to him," the spokesman added.
Police had declined to officially identify the suspect other than to say the 48-year-old had lost his wife, son and daughter in the air crash over Ueberlingen in southern Germany in July 2002 in which a Russian charter collided with a cargo plane.
In total 71 people, including more than 50 Russian children, died in the crash.
Records show Kaloyev's wife Svetlana perished along with their 10-year-old son Konstantin and four-year-old daughter Diana.
Swiss police on Monday declined to confirm the suspect's identity while the Zurich prosecutor Pascal Gossner was not immediately available for comment.