On 26 January 2026, BBC News published a detailed report revealing that Russia has exploited Interpol’s international policing mechanism to persecute critics beyond its borders. Leaked documents show that Russian authorities have filed hundreds of Red Notice requests falsely accusing activists, journalists, and political opponents of crimes, effectively restricting their movement globally. By abusing Interpol’s system, Russia aims to intimidate and silence dissenters abroad, complicating their asylum or travel options. The investigation exposes how this practice undermines the neutrality of international law enforcement cooperation and calls for urgent reforms within Interpol to stop politically motivated abuses. Experts warn this tactic is part of a larger Kremlin strategy of suppressing opposition through legal and bureaucratic harassment internationally.
Category: Intelligence & Espionage
Subcategory: Human Intelligence (HUMINT)
Incident Type: Recruitment of locals
Country: Russia
Source report: www.bbc.com/news/arti…
