Interpol, surveillance and abductions

• Check whether Interpol holds a request about you (see 'Am I on a list?'). Most Red Notices are not public, so a full request about yourself and a complaint go to Interpol's Commission for the Control of Files (CCF).
• Interpol's Constitution (art. 3) bars political cases. According to Interpol's internal data, about half of Russian files reviewed by the CCF did not comply with its rules.
• CIS-channel searches bypass Interpol's filters. Abductions are known in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Georgia and Uzbekistan: people were lured to meetings or seized near bases.
• Rights groups advise not agreeing to 'business' meetings and keeping threats as evidence for the police and a lawyer. Let one trusted person outside Russia know your route. Don't give details to family in Russia: they may be questioned.
• Digital security: the Access Now helpline (24/7, Russian spoken) and First Department guides.
• According to the BBC and Disclose (leaked Interpol documents, 26.01.2026), Russian requests drew three times as many complaints as those of Turkey, the runner-up: at least 700 people wanted by Moscow complained to the CCF, and more than 400 had their notices cancelled. Yet in 2024 about 90% of Russian requests still passed the initial check, so Interpol's filter does not always work.

current as of 7 October 2026. More: Interpol: CCF; Meduza: abductions in neighbouring countries (undesirable); OVD-Info: transnational repression (extremist); Novaya Gazeta Europe: BBC on Russia's abuse of Interpol channels (26.01.2026, in Russian) (undesirable)