Representation before INTERPOL

The simplest method is to consult INTERPOL’s public Red Notices database available on the organization’s official website.
However, it is important to understand that the absence of your name from the public Red Notice database does not necessarily mean that you are not internationally wanted.
The only reliable way to determine whether a Red Notice or Diffusion exists is to submit an official request to the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF).
Such requests are submitted through the Commission’s dedicated online portal.

No.
Individuals may submit requests directly without legal representation.
However, if an applicant prefers not to disclose their residential address to the Commission, the request may be submitted through a lawyer. In that case, all subsequent correspondence from the Commission will be sent to the lawyer acting on the applicant’s behalf.

As a general rule, requests for access to data should be processed within four months.
Applicants may indicate the country that is likely to have requested the notice or diffusion, which may expedite the Commission’s review.

After receiving the request, the Commission will determine whether any INTERPOL notice or diffusion concerning the applicant exists within the INTERPOL Information System.
If no such data exists, the applicant will receive official confirmation that no information concerning an international wanted notice is held.
Should such information be entered into the system at a later date, the Commission will automatically notify the applicant or their legal representative.
If information concerning an international wanted notice does exist, the Commission will request authorization from the relevant member country to disclose that information to the applicant.
Once consent has been granted by the requesting state through its National Central Bureau (NCB), the applicant or their lawyer will receive an official notification specifying:

• the type of notice (Red Notice or Diffusion);
• a brief description of the criminal allegations or, where applicable, the conviction and sentence;
• the date on which the notice or diffusion was circulated through INTERPOL; and
• certain additional information concerning the case.

In exceptionally rare circumstances, the requesting country may prohibit the Commission from confirming or denying the existence of a notice.

No.
The only reliable way to verify whether you are subject to an INTERPOL notice or diffusion is to submit an official request to the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files.
The fact that you are able to cross international borders without incident does not guarantee that no INTERPOL notice exists.
For example, a notice may have been circulated only to selected countries rather than globally, or border control procedures in certain jurisdictions may not result in the detection of every INTERPOL alert.

Information relating to a Red Notice or Diffusion is available to the law enforcement authorities of the member countries to which the notice has been circulated.
Depending on the legal framework of a particular jurisdiction, such information may also be accessible to other government authorities, including customs services, border control agencies, immigration authorities, and other competent law enforcement bodies.

As a general rule, if an individual is identified as being the subject of an international wanted notice, they may be immediately arrested for the purpose of extradition to the requesting country.
The applicable extradition procedure depends on the domestic laws of the country in which the person is arrested.
It should also be noted that, in certain circumstances, an individual may be detained without passing through border or police controls.
For example, in many countries, hotels are legally required to transmit guest registration data directly to law enforcement authorities. As a result, an INTERPOL alert may be identified during hotel check-in.
Similarly, an arrest may occur as a result of routine cooperation and information exchange between national police authorities.
Can a person be wanted by more than one country simultaneously?
Yes, this is theoretically possible.
In practice, however, such situations are relatively rare.
Where multiple countries seek the extradition of the same individual, the competent courts of the state in which the person is arrested will determine the legal basis and order in which the competing extradition requests will be considered.

Both Red Notices and Diffusions remain valid for five years.
Upon request by the issuing member country, they may be renewed an unlimited number of times.

Yes.
In certain cases, merely submitting a request for access to data—even without arguing that the criminal proceedings are unlawful—may prompt the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF) to review the legality of the notice on its own initiative.
If the Commission decides to delete the notice, the applicant or their legal representative will receive an official certificate, containing all applicable security features, confirming that the individual is not subject to an INTERPOL international wanted notice.

Yes.
In some situations, an individual may be fully aware that criminal proceedings have been initiated against them and may even know that the national authorities have decided to place them on an international wanted list.
Nevertheless, no INTERPOL notice or diffusion may ever be entered into the INTERPOL Information System.
An international search announced under domestic law does not automatically result in the publication of an INTERPOL notice.

Applications seeking the deletion of an INTERPOL notice or diffusion must be submitted through the dedicated online portal of the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF).
Given the complexity of INTERPOL law and procedure, applicants are strongly advised to retain experienced legal counsel to prepare and submit the application.
It is also important to note that the Commission’s decisions are final and are not subject to appeal. For this reason, the application must be carefully drafted and supported by appropriate legal arguments and evidence from the outset.

The legal arguments supporting a request for deletion depend on the specific circumstances of each case and the legal system of the country that requested the notice.
Among the most common grounds are the following:

• The criminal prosecution is politically motivated.
• The applicant enjoys an internationally recognized protection status, such as refugee status.
• The criminal proceedings fail to comply with internationally recognized standards of a fair trial and due process.
• A court in another country has refused the applicant’s extradition to the requesting state whose data is recorded in the INTERPOL Information System.

This list is not exhaustive.
Moreover, none of these grounds, taken individually, automatically guarantees the deletion of an INTERPOL notice. Each case is assessed individually by the Commission based on all relevant facts, applicable law, and the evidence submitted.

After an application seeking the deletion of an INTERPOL notice has been filed, the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF) will usually request relevant information from the member country that issued the arrest warrant or requested the publication of the notice.
The Commission may also request clarifications and/or additional information from the applicant.
Once the Commission considers that it has obtained sufficient information to decide the case, it will issue its decision on the merits.
A copy of the decision is then sent to the applicant or to their legal representative.
As a general rule, the Commission issues its decision within nine months, although in certain cases the proceedings may take either less or more time, depending on the complexity of the case.

Yes.
An applicant may request the temporary suspension (blocking) of the dissemination of the INTERPOL notice while the Commission is considering the application for its deletion.
Such a request must be properly reasoned and supported by legal arguments, demonstrating why interim measures are justified pending the Commission’s final decision.

If the Commission grants the application, it issues an official certificate confirming that the applicant is no longer subject to an INTERPOL international wanted notice.
The certificate specifies the date from which the relevant data ceased to be recorded in the INTERPOL Information System.
Each certificate contains a unique verification code that enables law enforcement authorities worldwide to verify its authenticity, if necessary.
From the date indicated in the certificate, the information concerning the applicant is removed from the INTERPOL Information System and is no longer accessible to police authorities or any other competent agencies in any INTERPOL member country.
Can the Deletion of an INTERPOL Notice Have a Positive Impact on Extradition Proceedings?
Yes.
In many jurisdictions around the world, a favourable decision of the Commission may have a decisive impact on the outcome of extradition proceedings.

A preventive request is an application asking the Commission not to disseminate information concerning the applicant through the INTERPOL Information System should such information be submitted in the future.
Such a request may be filed only if, at the time of submission, no INTERPOL notice or diffusion concerning the applicant exists in the INTERPOL Information System.
In practice, however, filing a preventive request is not always advisable and should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

No.
As noted above, the INTERPOL legal framework does not provide for an appeal procedure against decisions of the Commission.
However, it is possible to request a review of the decision if new facts or evidence become available that were not presented to or considered by the Commission during the original proceedings.

The cost of legal assistance in INTERPOL matters depends on the specific circumstances of each case, including:

• the complexity of the legal issues involved;
• the jurisdiction of the requesting country;
• the volume of documentation requiring review;
• the need to obtain additional evidence or expert opinions; and
• the scope of legal representation required before the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files.

Because every case is unique, legal fees are determined on an individual basis following a preliminary assessment of the matter.
Prospective clients are welcome to contact Attorney Oleksandr Ovchynnykov for a confidential consultation and an individual evaluation of their case.