Leaked Documents Reveal Russia Exploiting Interpol’s Wanted Notices to Pursue Critics Overseas

Thousands of files leaked by a whistleblower at Interpol reveal the scale of Russia’s alleged misuse of the international policing agency to target critics abroad.

The documents show that Moscow has used Interpol’s wanted notices to seek the arrest of political opponents, business figures, and journalists, claiming they committed crimes. Analysis of the data indicates that over the past decade, Russia has generated more complaints to Interpol’s independent complaints unit than any other country—three times more than Turkey—and that more of Russia’s requests have been overturned than those of any other nation.

After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Interpol introduced additional checks on Moscow’s activity to curb potential misuse. However, the leaked files suggest these measures were insufficient, and the whistleblower said some stricter controls were quietly lifted in 2025. Interpol stated that it helps arrest thousands of serious criminals annually and has strengthened safeguards against misuse, acknowledging the serious impact a red notice can have on an individual’s life.

A red notice alerts all 196 member countries to locate and detain a person, while a red diffusion is a similar request sent to select countries. Russian businessman Igor Pestrikov, named in a red diffusion after fleeing Russia in June 2022 and seeking asylum in France, described the personal toll: blocked bank accounts, difficulties renting property, and constant stress. For safety, his daughter and ex-wife relocated abroad.

Pestrikov had been a major shareholder in privatized metals companies and resisted pressure from Russian ministers to restrict his exports to the domestic market—a decision he says was both ethical and financial. He believes this, along with his Ukrainian wife, led to his companies being nationalized and an investigation into alleged financial crimes.

After discovering the red diffusion, Pestrikov challenged it through Interpol’s Commission for the Control of Files (CCF), which ruled the case predominantly political and overturned the request, citing “generic and formulaic” claims from Russia and inadequate explanation of the alleged offenses.

The leaked documents show that over 11 years, Russia has been the subject of more complaints than any other country. At least 700 people wanted by Russia approached the CCF, with over 400 having their notices overturned—more than any other nation. British barrister Ben Keith, who has represented clients on Russian red notices, said that Russia is a major source of abusive requests and that Interpol’s measures have often failed to prevent misuse.

Lawyer Yuriy Nemets noted that even after extra scrutiny of Russian requests following the Ukraine invasion, critics of the war have continued to be targeted under ordinary criminal charges. The leak also includes thousands of internal Interpol messages showing informal channels used by Moscow to track individuals abroad, circumventing the formal red notice system.

Among these is a message regarding journalist Armen Aramyan, who fled Russia after reporting on protests supporting Alexei Navalny. Russia asked authorities in Armenia and Germany for any information on his whereabouts, sidestepping official Interpol procedures. Other messages reveal tracking requests on allies of Navalny and high-profile defectors, even while additional vetting measures were in place.

Internal Interpol reports from 2024 and 2025 express “serious concerns” about Russia’s repeated violations, yet the majority of its requests still passed initial checks, and half of complaints received by the CCF were overturned. Attempts to place notices on International Criminal Court judges and prosecutors in 2024 were blocked, but discussions over easing restrictions on Russia continued, apparently in Moscow’s favor.

Legal experts agree more must be done to prevent abuse. Ben Keith suggested suspending countries that repeatedly misuse the system, while Pestrikov warned that Russia can “with the push of a button” accuse anyone of a crime, enabling persecution globally.