China and Russia Take the Helm of Interpol

The International Criminal Police Organization elected a Chinese official for its president and a Russian for vice president. Alexander Prokopchuk, one of four Interpol vice presidents, is the first Russian to hold the position. Meng Hongwei will lead the organization until 2020, and human rights watchers express concern that China could manipulate the office for its own interests. Beijing will also host Interpol’s general assembly in 2017. “Before Meng became vice minister since 2004, he was deputy director of the armed police forces Beijing would send to quell unrest in Tibet, Xinjiang, and other unstable outskirts of China,” reports Robbie Gramer for Foreign Policy. “China has used Interpol’s 'red notices,’ a de facto international police warrant, to try to detain former officials and political asylum seekers that fled the country. China issued 100 of such notices last year.” Interpol as an institution is powerful, representing more countries than any other political institution besides the United Nations, but Gramer explains the president is “primarily a symbolic figurehead.” Ultimately, other top officials at the organization and the realities of bureaucracy may stymie any attempts to manipulate Interpol. Interpol’s motto is “connecting police for a safer world.” – YaleGlobal