How Russia games Interpol to target Ukrainians | Opinion by Rhys Davies and Ben Keith for Kyiv Independent

On 23 April 2026 Ben Keith writes for The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation.

An analysis of Freedom House’s 2025 transnational repression report – what the data reveals, and what it cannot capture, about the true scale of INTERPOL abuse in 2025.

The CCF moves to a new dedicated, secure online portal as the sole channel for submitting requests.

A new UN report concludes that Nicaragua has used surveillance networks, smear campaigns and Interpol mechanisms to pursue political opponents in exile.

A guide to how Interpol United Nations Security Council Special Notices work, how they differ from Interpol Red Notice, and what they mean for individuals placed under UN sanctions.

Bangladesh’s reported attempt to secure an Interpol Red Notice against UK MP Tulip Siddiq raises concerns over political motivation and misuse of the system, as Red Notices are not arrest warrants and are inappropriate where an individual’s whereabouts are publicly known.

Special panel event on 5 March 2026 in London, hosted by Temple Garden Chambers in partnership with the Commission for International Justice and Accountability.

Opinion piece by Red Notice Monitor Editors Rhys Davies and Ben Keith for Kyiv Independent on 20 February 2026.

Drawing on findings from a BBC Eye Investigations report, we examine how Red Notices and diffusions can be exploited to target critics abroad, the human consequences for those affected, and the structural weaknesses that allow abusive requests to circulate for far too long.

26 January 2026 – BBC Eye Investigation reveals how Russia has allegedly used Interpol’s Red Notice system to target critics abroad. Ben Keith is quoted, highlighting the human impact and systemic risks posed by misuse of international policing tools.

On 21 January 2026, Newsweek published an op-ed by Red Notice Monitor editor Ben Keith examining the prosecution of Nicolás Maduro – and why the legality of his seizure is unlikely to shape the outcome.

On 14 January 2026, Red Notice Monitor Editor Rhys Davies publishes a piece in Solicitors Journal on how authoritarian states exploit Interpol Red Notices as a tool of transnational repression, and the remedies available to those who find themselves targeted.

Article for Verfassungsblog on 9 January 2026. Cross-border policing at a constitutional crossroads: weaponised notices, systemic vulnerabilities, and urgent reform needs.

China has become one of the most sophisticated users of the Interpol Red Notice system – and one of the most problematic. What distinguishes Chinese cases from those of other abusive states is the breadth of the campaign.

Singapore’s close partnership with Interpol – from hosting the Interpol Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) to participating in operations like Thunder – makes it a jurisdiction where Interpol Red Notices are taken seriously. If you are subject to a Red Notice in Singapore, or believe you may be, understanding how the system works here is essential.