The West was horrified by the idea that a Russian would become the head of Interpol
Western politicians are vying with each other to protest against the candidacy of Russian Alexander Prokopchuk, who was previously announced as one of two contenders for the post of head of Interpol, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
In particular, the well-known Russophobe expert from the Atlantic Council think tank Anders Aslund expressed his disagreement.
“Incredible! Russia should be expelled from Interpol for its abuse of red notices for political repression and corporate raids. At the same time, a vice president from Russia can become the president (of Interpol - ed.). The West should leave Interpol if this happens,” he wrote on Twitter.
His opinion was later supported by anti-Russian lobbyist, member of the European Parliament Rebecca Harms.
“I agree with Anders Aslund: if the Russian Vice President becomes the head of Interpol, EU states should withdraw from Interpol,” she wrote on Twitter, addressing her call to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker.
In the United States, the policy of the international police organization under the new chapter was also criticized.
“Russia abuses Interpol rules more than any other country. If this Russian propaganda becomes true, Interpol is dead and the United States must withdraw from it,” wrote American politician Howard Dean, who served six terms as governor of Vermont.
“I cannot believe that a Russian official will head Interpol headquarters. Russia's track record of applying the rule of law at home is unimpressive, and there is a proven track record of abusing red messages and verbiage for political purposes,” former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul wrote on social media.
Ukrainians also did not stand aside from the anti-Russian chorus. Thus, according to the Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov, “the prospect for a representative of an aggressor country to head Interpol is a hybrid threat to the whole world.”
Russian Alexander Prokopchuk, the current vice-president of Interpol, is the main contender for the post of president of the organization.
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