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.
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 activities to prevent any potential misuse of Interpol's channels in relation to the targeting of individuals... However, the leaked documents suggest these did not prevent Russia from abusing the system, and some stricter measures were quietly dropped in 2025.
According to Igor Pestrikov, a Russian businessman whose name appears in the leaked files, When you're hit with a red notice, your life changes completely. He was put on a wanted list after applying for asylum in France, resulting in restrictions on his ability to function normally in a foreign country.
Pestrikov's situation illustrates how Russia's misuse of Interpol not only affects legal standings but also has profound personal implications, reflecting a broader pattern of political oppression that continues to shape responses and policies both within and outside of Russia.
