Following detailed representations from Peters & Peters, INTERPOL has deleted a diffusion request from the Russian Federation, in respect of a prominent Russian businessman.

The Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF) found that maintaining data on Peters & Peters’ client may have adverse implications for INTERPOL’s neutrality, and that the data failed to comply with INTERPOL’s data processing rules.

The key factors leading to this result were the political elements of the case, coupled with the lack of a clear description in the case documentation of the applicant’s alleged criminal acts.

The CCF’s decision carried implicit criticism of the Russian authorities, for failing to engage adequately with the CCF’s follow-up queries relating to the client’s alleged criminality, and for failing to request the client’s extradition, despite having seized his assets outside the Russian Federation.

The client first approached Peters & Peters in early 2022.