Russia using Interpol's wanted list to target critics abroad, leak reveals

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 8 min read 100% complete January 26, 2026 at 01:15 AM

AI Summary

long article 8 min

A data leak reveals Russia is allegedly abusing Interpol's wanted list system to target critics abroad, including political opponents, businessmen, and journalists, by requesting their arrest under the guise of criminal charges. The leaked files, obtained by the BBC and Disclose, show that Interpol's complaints unit has received more complaints about Russia than any other country over the past decade, with a high rate of overturned cases. Despite Interpol implementing stricter checks after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the documents suggest the abuse continued, and some measures were later dropped. Interpol maintains it has systems to prevent misuse and has strengthened them in recent years, emphasizing the importance of its operations in arresting serious criminals globally.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Turkey 30% Julia Luft 40% France 40% Cate Brown 40% Max Hudson 40% BBC 50% Ukraine ×260% Igor Pestrikov ×380% Russia ×890% Interpol ×995%

Keywords

interpol abuse 90% russia 80% red notice 70% wanted list 70% interpol 60% political opponents 60% whistleblower 50% international policing 50% red diffusion 40%