Thousands of files provided by a whistleblower at Interpol expose for the first time the extent of Russia's apparent abuse of the international policing agency to target its critics abroad.
The data provided to the BBC World Service and French investigative outlet, Disclose, reveals that Russia is using Interpol's wanted lists to request the arrest of people such as political opponents, businessmen, and journalists, claiming that they have committed crimes.
Analysis of data also suggests that over the past decade, Interpol's own independent complaints unit has received more complaints about Russia than anyone else - three times more than the next highest country, Turkey. In addition, it indicates complaints against Moscow's requests have led to more cases being overturned than for any other country.
After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Interpol introduced extra checks on Moscow's activity to prevent any potential misuse of Interpol's channels in relation to the targeting of individuals within or beyond the conflict in Ukraine. But the leaked documents suggest these did not prevent Russia from abusing the system.
Igor Pestrikov, a businessman who fled to France, found himself on a wanted list following his refusal to comply with Russian demands, leading him into a life of constant stress and fear. Pestrikov stated, When you're hit with a red notice, your life changes completely. The leaked data illustrates a troubling pattern where Russia exploits Interpol's mechanisms while evading sufficient scrutiny, raising urgent calls for reform in how Interpol monitors its systems and handles national requests.
