Kiev Opposes Possible Election Of Russian Officer As Head Of Interpol - Interior Ministry

KIEV (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th November, 2018) Ukraine opposes the candidacy of senior Russian police officer, Maj. Gen. Alexander Prokopchuk, for the post of the head of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said on Sunday in a statement.

Last month, then Interpol President Meng Hongwei resigned from his post as the Chinese authorities are suspecting him of corruption crimes. According to the Financial Times newspaper, there are two main candidates for the post of the Interpol's head: acting President Kim Jong Yang from South Korea and Vice President Prokopchuk.

"If Alexander Prokopchuk becomes the President of INTERPOL, this will allow the Russian regime to expand further the practice of using 'red notices' to restrict freedom of movement and to prosecute persons whom it considers undesirable .

.. The world must acknowledge this regime's toxicity and work out preventive measures, rather than legalize it, appointing Russian representative as INTERPOL leader," the statement said.

The ministry added that it was working intensively at the Interpol General Assembly in Dubai to prevent Prokopchuk from becoming the organization's head.

Relations between Moscow and Kiev deteriorated in 2014 after Crimea's reunification with Russia and amid the crisis in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities have accused Russia of interfering in Ukraine's internal affairs and being involved in the conflict in Donbas.

Russia has repeatedly denied the allegations, stressing that it is not party to the internal conflict in Ukraine and wanted the country to overcome its political and economic crises.