JHA in Media

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Interpol has, by a decision taken at its session of 27 February to 3 March 2017, deleted from its databases the Red Notice issued in July 2015 in respect of President Viktor Yanukovych, and the data held on its files concerning President Yanukovych’s son, Oleksandr Yanukovych. Interpol has confirmed that President Yanukovych and Oleksandr Yanukovych are not subject to an Interpol Red Notice or Diffusion, and that they are not known on Interpol’s databases.

This action by Interpol follows applications in 2015 to Interpol by Joseph Hage Aaronson LLP on behalf of President Yanukovych and Oleksandr Yanukovych seeking their removal from the Interpol list of wanted persons, including on the basis that the cases against them were politically motivated, lacked an evidentiary basis, and lacked due process. Following these requests, Interpol had suspended a Red Notice issued against President Yanukovych and a so-called Diffusion (a request for co-operation in relation to a police investigation) concerning Oleksandr Yanukovych, and blocked the access of Interpol member countries to data concerning them, while it considered the concerns raised.

During this process Interpol considered further information provided by Joseph Hage Aaronson LLP on behalf of President Yanukovych and Oleksandr Yanukovych, and consulted the National Central Bureau of Ukraine, including on its further requests for Red Notices made during that time, which have not been granted. This decision confirms that the retention of the data held in respect of President Yanukovych and Oleksandr Yanukovych is contrary to and that all international police cooperation via Interpol’s channels in this case would not be in conformity with Interpol’s Constitution and Rules.

Enquiries to: Joseph Hage Aaronson LLP, Tel: +44 (0)2078518888