The ARGA Annual Analytical Report (2023–2025) documents the systemic abuse of Interpol mechanisms in economic cases by Russia and several CIS countries. Economic charges — including fraud, embezzlement, and abuse of authority — are used as instruments of pressure in corporate and politically sensitive conflicts, including through the criminalization of civil-law disputes, artificial “aggravation” of case narratives, in absentia arrest warrants issued without proper notification, and repeated prosecutions for the same facts. These practices undermine Articles 2 and 3 of the Interpol Constitution, overload the Commission for the Control of Files (CCF), and weaken trust in Interpol data.
Based on the analysis of official Interpol and CCF reports, documentation from the Council of Europe, UNODC, OECD, GRECO, ECtHR case law, and a large set of verified ARGA cases, the report demonstrates that a significant share of economic notifications does not meet due process standards, proportionality principles, or evidentiary requirements. The presented examples confirm recurring patterns: the use of Red Notices/Diffusions to legitimize domestic conflicts, non-cooperation of national bureaus, disregard for independent expert assessments, and violations of the accused persons’ right to defense.
ARGA proposes three key reform areas for the Interpol General Assembly:
- introduction of a pre-publication admissibility filter for economic cases, taking into account the civil-law nature of disputes and the availability of evidence;
- strengthening the mandate and tools of the CCF, including fast-track procedures and a presumption in favor of the applicant in cases of non-cooperation by national authorities;
- establishing a permanent INTERPOL–UNODC–OECD–GRECO coordination mechanism and increasing transparency of statistics on removed notices.
The aim of the report is to reinforce legal safeguards, reduce the risk of politicization, and restore trust in Interpol as a neutral instrument of international cooperation, while also providing a practical tool for lawyers, human rights defenders, and individuals facing unlawful international prosecution.
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