Interpol votes against controversial Russian candidate for new leader
Interpol has rejected a controversial Russian candidate tipped to land the job, electing South Korea’s Kim Jong-yang instead.
Alexander Prokopchuk was widely expected to win the election today, but Interpol’s 194 member states picked Kim instead at the international police body’s annual congress in Dubai.
Prokopchuk had been accused of abusing Interpol’s arrest warrant system, with fears growing that he would use it to target enemies of Russia President Vladmir Putin.
He was accused of doing this while leading of Interpol’s Moscow bureau, and Putin critic Bill Browder told City A.M. earlier this week that Russia “is potentially destabilising Interpol by both abusing it and then trying to put its own people at the head of Interpol”.
The Hermitage Capital boss added that were Prokopchuk to win the vote, he would “have to be more careful about travelling”.
He added that the western world would be opposed to Putin having more influence in world affairs through Interpol, claiming it would be akin to “putting the mafia in charge”.
Interpol elected a new head after previous chief Meng Hongwei vanished on a trip to China.
Beijing later confirmed he has been detained on suspicion of taking bribes.
Kim has been acting head since then, and will now continue in the role.