European Criminal Bar Association Webinar on the Misuse of INTERPOL Mechanisms

On 6 February 2026, representing Haraç Law & Consulting, we attended the “Repression through INTERPOL” webinar organised by the Extradition Working Group of the European Criminal Bar Association (ECBA).

Introduced by Prof. Dr. Heiko Ahlbrecht and featuring UK defence lawyer Ben Keith, the webinar examined the misuse of INTERPOL mechanisms and the resulting challenges for international criminal practice, extradition proceedings and fundamental rights.

Particular attention was given to the legal character of Red Notices and Diffusions and to the consequences that misuse of these mechanisms may have for affected individuals. The discussion emphasised that a Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant, while also recognising the significant practical consequences it may have for personal liberty, freedom of movement and extradition proceedings.

Another issue discussed was the possibility that requests with an underlying political dimension may be presented through ordinary criminal allegations, including fraud or money laundering. The webinar therefore highlighted the importance of looking beyond the formal label of the alleged offence when assessing the circumstances of a case.

The discussion also addressed the fact that refusal of an extradition request by a national court does not, by itself, automatically remove the corresponding INTERPOL record. INTERPOL procedures may therefore require separate consideration, including applications before the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF) and the practical delays that may arise in those proceedings.

Using recent examples concerning Russia and Belarus, the webinar underlined the importance of considering extradition law, asylum-related issues, fair-trial guarantees and risks of ill-treatment together when assessing the operation of INTERPOL mechanisms.