Lawyer
Anatoliy Yarovoy
Essence of the Problem
The client faced serious legal consequences after an Interpol diffusion was circulated at the request of law-enforcement authorities of the Russian Federation. The basis was a criminal case concerning alleged large-scale fraud involving cryptocurrency technologies.
As part of the international search, Interpol databases contained information about an active arrest warrant, creating a high risk for the client of detention, extradition, and restrictions on freedom of movement.
Prosecution’s Position and the Russian Authorities’ Demands
The Russian side claimed that:
- the client was the organizer of a group involved in cryptocurrency theft;
- the alleged crime was committed through an online platform;
- the damage amounted to several billion rubles;
- a court order for the client’s arrest had been issued;
- the criminal prosecution was lawful and complied with national legislation.
On this basis, Russia insisted that the information remain in Interpol’s database.
Course of the Proceedings and Key Defense Arguments
During the review, the defense pointed out fundamental violations:
-
Unlawfulness of the Initial Arrest Warrant
It was proven that the court of first instance issued its decision in the absence of the client’s defense counsel, despite official notifications that participation was impossible.
-
Violation of the Right to Defense
The appellate court acknowledged that gross procedural violations had occurred during consideration of the arrest issue and overturned the initial ruling.
-
Insufficient Substantiation of the Accusations
The defense emphasized that:
-
there was no direct evidence of the client’s involvement in the crime;
-
no link had been established between the client and the crypto wallets;
-
the client’s physical presence or control over the transactions had not been proven;
-
part of the alleged facts was speculative.
-
-
Jurisdiction Issues
It was noted that the alleged victims were foreign nationals and that part of the events took place outside the Russian Federation.
Position of the Interpol Commission and the Final Decision
The Commission carefully analyzed the parties’ arguments and reached the following conclusions:
-
It was recognized that the initial arrest warrant had been issued in violation of the right to defense.
-
It was confirmed that this violation had subsequently been remedied — the Russian court reconsidered the matter and issued a new decision.
-
The previous warrant was deemed invalid.
-
Interpol was ordered to update its records — the old warrant must be replaced with the new one.
At the same time, the Commission emphasized that:
-
it does not assess a person’s guilt;
-
it does not substitute itself for a court;
-
but it does monitor compliance with procedural guarantees and human rights.
Key result:
-
the data in Interpol’s system must be corrected, and the unlawful warrant removed;
-
the defense arguments regarding violations of procedural rights were recognized as well-founded.
Outcome
Although the Commission did not delete the records entirely, the defense achieved a fundamentally important result:
-
a violation of the client’s rights was acknowledged;
-
the unlawful warrant was annulled;
-
outdated and illegal information was removed;
-
it was confirmed that Interpol cannot use data obtained in breach of procedure.
This significantly reduced the client’s legal risks and became an important step in protecting them at the international level.
If You Are Facing a Similar Situation
If:
-
information about you has been entered into Interpol’s database;
-
an international search has been initiated;
-
a warrant has been issued in violation of procedure;
-
proceedings have been launched on political or questionable grounds,
seeking assistance from experienced lawyers in international and extradition law is critically important.
A well-prepared legal strategy and work with the Interpol Commission make it possible to:
-
challenge unlawful searches,
-
achieve removal of records,
-
protect the right to liberty and a fair trial.
If your case is similar — do not delay protecting yourself.
