Russian tipped to take over Interpol in Kremlin victory

Alexander Prokopchuk is expected to be elected next week
Alexander Prokopchuk is expected to be elected next week

A Russian official is favourite to be the next head of Interpol in spite of concerns that Moscow has been using the international policing agency to target political opponents.

British officials expect Alexander Prokopchuk, 56, a veteran of Russia’s interior ministry, to be elected as the next Interpol president next week. The election follows the disappearance of Meng Hongwei, the president who resigned last month and is being investigated by China’s anti-corruption authorities.

Mr Prokopchuk’s appointment would represent a significant victory for the Kremlin after criticism of the Russian state for abusing the agency’s “red notice” system.

Russia has been accused of trying to obtain red notices, which are effectively international arrest warrants, against political opponents to restrict their ability to travel or