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 and the whistleblower told us some stricter measures were quietly dropped in 2025.
In response, Interpol insists that it successfully facilitates the arrest of thousands of serious criminals each year while maintaining systems designed to prevent misuse, stating it is aware of how these arrest requests can impact individuals.
Igor Pestrikov, a Russian businessman named in the leaked files, described the profound consequences of being subject to an Interpol red notice, saying, When you're hit with a red notice, your life changes completely.
Pestrikov fled Russia in June 2022 and later learned he was placed on a wanted list. He expressed ongoing anxiety due to the threat of arrest and restrictions on his personal freedoms.
The leaked documents highlight a troubling pattern where Russia has been one of the main perpetrators of abusive red notices, with numerous individuals reporting that their cases are politically motivated rather than based on legal grounds.
As global scrutiny of Interpol's activities increases, experts advocate stronger measures to prevent any misuse of its systems, warning that without accountability, states could exploit these channels to evade justice or target political opponents.
