A recent data breach exposed the full scope of Russia’s use of Interpol’s international arrest warrants to pursue political critics abroad. The leak includes a set of internal communications and official request templates that illustrate how the Russian authorities tailored Interpol’s system to target journalists, dissidents, and opposition figures within foreign jurisdictions.

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The documents reveal that between 2020 and 2023, more than thirty critics were added to Interpol’s Red Notice database under the umbrella of “political threats.” Each submission contains a narrative that frames the individual as “illegal extremist” or “terrorist affiliate,” language that is not consistent with Interpol’s procedural guidelines for political misuse. Legal scholars note that such requests contravene the Mutual Legal Assistance treaties that govern cross‑border arrests.

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In response, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement affirming its compliance with Interpol protocols while denying any irregularities. Interpol’s Public Affairs Bureau has announced an internal review and an external audit will be conducted by an independent statutory body to assess any procedural deviations. Meanwhile, several European parliaments have called for a formal inquiry into the allegations and for stricter safeguards against political manipulation of international arrest warrants.