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- "Effective fight against international crime is impossible without mutual support and cooperation"
"Effective fight against international crime is impossible without mutual support and cooperation"
Over the past five years, the interaction of Russian police officers with their foreign colleagues within Interpol has changed significantly. Realizing this, criminals are actively trying to use the differences for their own purposes. How much does politics affect the work of law enforcement officers now, do European countries extradite criminals, how is the joint fight against cyber attacks going on, and how does the "Millennium" project help in the search for thieves in law and criminal authorities? The head of the National Central Bureau of Interpol of the Russian Interior Ministry, Major General of Police Valery Kalachev, told "Izvestia" about all this in an interview.
"The geography of renditions of criminals is expanding significantly"
— Speaking last year at the 43rd conference of the Association of National Police of the ASEAN member Countries, Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev stressed that Russia, together with a number of other states, defends the inviolability of the basic values of Interpol. Among them are neutrality and the prevention of the influence of political conjuncture on law enforcement activities. How much has the format of our interaction with Interpol partners changed? Do you encounter unreasonable refusals of cooperation?
— The political situation in recent years has made adjustments to the format of our interaction with Interpol and foreign partners. At the same time, Interpol's capabilities and resources remain the most effective tools of international investigation and are actively used by Russian law enforcement agencies.
Modern transnational crime poses a serious threat to security and stability not only for individual countries, but also for the global community as a whole. Information exchange and assistance in finding criminals are important aspects of the joint work of Interpol member countries, despite possible differences.
Russian law enforcement agencies effectively interact with foreign partners in such areas as international search for persons, combating terrorism, organized crime, illegal migration, drug trafficking, economic crimes; combating corruption and money laundering and other assets, as well as crimes committed in the field of information and telecommunication technologies.
An effective fight against international crime is impossible without mutual support and cooperation between law enforcement agencies around the world — most of our foreign colleagues understand this. However, of course, there are problems. A number of countries — Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, the United Kingdom and Switzerland — actually refused to respond to most of our requests, which complicated the work. Nevertheless, most countries, including European ones, demonstrate their willingness to keep in touch on the search for and transfer of criminals.
Cooperation within the Organization is maintained in full. The Russian Bureau of Interpol will always strive to expand cooperation and work closely with all interested countries to effectively combat international crime.
— Speaking at the International Security Forum this year, you noted that in 2025, 121 wanted criminals were identified abroad, and another 315 people were detained. How many of them were eventually issued to Russia and by which countries? Are there any examples of wanted persons being extradited to us from Europe?
— In 2025, the staff of the National Security Council of Interpol independently identified 121 wanted criminals abroad, and together with the convoy of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia, 46 accused and convicted persons were brought from abroad. In the first half of 2026, there are 25 more wanted. Over the past year and a half, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Thailand have been among the most active countries in extraditing internationally wanted persons.
At the same time, the geography of extradition of criminals is significantly expanding. Thus, there is a steady positive trend in the growth of extradition of wanted persons from Latin American countries: Peru, El Salvador, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Argentina and the Dominican Republic. We note the steady growth of information exchange with law enforcement agencies in the European region. Last year, four defendants detained in Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and France were transferred to our country.
This year, five defendants from countries such as Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Bulgaria have already been transferred to the Russian Federation. Moreover, the extradition of wanted persons from EU countries (France and Bulgaria) resumed for the first time since 2022.
— We have traditionally been reluctant to hand over those accused of major fraud or corruption, citing political motives. Are there any examples of such persons being extradited now?
— Nowadays, people who are wanted for economic crimes are often handed over to us. This is due to the fact that such crimes make up a significant part of all the incriminated acts.
An example is the successful cooperation of the competent authorities of the Russian Federation and foreign partners in a high-profile and complicated case related to the Finiko Internet project. Its organizers promised to place investors' money on classical and cryptocurrency exchanges, returning them with a profit. However, the participants of the criminal structure did not make any real investments. As a result, at least 7.7 thousand victims, citizens of the Russian Federation, suffered material damage totaling over 4 billion rubles. Thanks to the active cooperation of the NCB Interpol of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia with foreign partners, the organizers and participants of the criminal community were detained abroad and extradited to our country for investigative actions and criminal prosecution.
"Transnational crime does not recognize state borders"
— Are there any restrictions on the Russian Federation's cooperation through Interpol channels?
— We are currently conducting a full information exchange with the Organization's member countries. We use Interpol's channels to interact with all member countries of the Organization. Since the beginning of the year, cooperation has been organized with 156 countries. At the same time, we are seeing an increase in document flow by more than 5% by the end of 2025, and by more than 7% in the first half of 2026.
Interpol Secretary General Valdesi Urquiza noted that against the backdrop of the current international situation, criminal communities are trying to use the contradictions that arise between countries to their advantage. In such circumstances, a neutral platform for professional cooperation between law enforcement agencies is especially important. This is exactly the opportunity that Interpol provides to all member countries.
In April 2026, during the annual conference of the heads of the national central Bureaus of Interpol in Lyon, a working meeting was held with the newly elected President of the Organization, Lucas Philippe. He noted the significant contribution of the Russian Bureau to the work of Interpol and stressed that most member countries are interested in maintaining and further developing practical and mutually beneficial cooperation with Russian law enforcement agencies. Transnational crime does not recognize State borders and does not depend on political differences, therefore, it can be effectively combated if a professional dialogue and mutual trust are built within the international police community.
Secretary General of Interpol Valdesi Urquiza
— It is no secret that criminal authorities and thieves in law, hiding from criminal prosecution, settle in Turkey and the UAE. Are we working with the authorities of these countries to detain and extradite criminals?
— The NCB of Interpol of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia pays special attention to this area of activity, considering the fight against organized crime and the neutralization of the influence of criminal authorities to be one of the key priorities.
Of course, the active and offensive position of Russian law enforcement agencies forces the leaders of organized criminal groups to leave the country and continue their criminal activities outside of Russia. But even there, they remain within the reach of Russian law enforcement agencies thanks to Interpol.
We have traditionally worked closely and fruitfully with partners from Turkey and the UAE, which has led to many examples of the detection and detention of "thieves in law." It should be noted that the fight against organized crime is one of the key areas of activity of our Organization, which is why
We also actively cooperate within the framework of Interpol's international police projects. The oldest of them is "Millennium", which organizes cooperation with law enforcement agencies of more than 50 countries.
The Russian side has been involved in this project since its inception, and the information sent by our operational units remains the core of all law enforcement work, which contributes to the further search and detention of criminal authorities around the world.
It is noteworthy that an important place in this work is occupied by direct negotiations and meetings of the staff of the Interpol National Security Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia with partners from the relevant departments of the states where the wanted persons are located. During such events, plans are developed and joint actions are coordinated, and operational information is exchanged.
— The topic of cybercrimes is especially relevant now, but they are often committed from abroad. Is it possible to track down intruders through Interpol channels? How does the Russian Interior Ministry cooperate with other countries in investigating IT crimes?
— With the growing number of users of modern telecommunication devices and information networks, the range of potential victims of cybercrime is also increasing, and new ways of committing illegal acts are emerging.
Of particular concern is the latency of this type of offense, which is associated with anonymity and lack of direct contact with the victim, reach of a wide audience, ease of access to information, as well as the organized and cross-border nature of the attacks.
The Russian Federation has already gained sufficient experience in combating cybercrime and has achieved significant results. We actively and fruitfully cooperate with our partners from Interpol member countries. In this context, it is necessary to note, first of all, the cooperation with the law enforcement agencies of Australia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and France and to thank our colleagues for the organized work.
The Russian Bureau of Interpol pays special attention to crimes against the sexual integrity of minors committed by intruders on the Internet. To combat them, we use special information tools of the Interpol General Secretariat. With their help, experts identify and analyze the activities of criminals in distributing illegal content on the Internet, identify the identity of intruders and their victims by comparing the distributed media content.
Here is one recent example of such international police cooperation. In the Perm Region, the activities of an organized criminal group were suppressed, which affected 12 minors. Interpol channels established the presence of one of the key defendants in Serbia, he was put on the international wanted list and was soon detained. Currently, cooperation with Serbian partners continues.
Significant assistance was also provided to Russian investigators in the framework of criminal cases initiated on the distribution of materials with pornographic images of minors and sexual violence against minors. Information obtained through Interpol channels helped identify those involved in these crimes.
— Russian and foreign media have repeatedly raised the issue of politicization of cooperation in the field of international search for vehicles by a number of Western states. Has your Office taken measures to address this issue?
— In recent years, there have been difficulties in interacting through Interpol channels with certain Western countries that ignore requests from Russian law enforcement agencies, thereby giving a political tone to international police cooperation.
Such examples are often found on the track of countering criminal encroachments on vehicles. Despite the existing difficulties, the Bureau continues to work actively in this direction, and close cooperation with interested departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, as well as the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation, contributes to achieving significant success in this matter.
Since 2024, the number of detected vehicles on the wanted list at the initiative of Canadian law enforcement agencies has increased significantly in Russia. However, for a long time, all requests from the Russian side regarding the identification of such vehicles were ignored. Thanks to the aggressive work done together with the Interpol General Secretariat and the Organization's File Control Commission, we managed to get Canadian law enforcement agencies to de-wanted more than 83% of vehicles found in our country and restore the violated rights of Russian citizens. Work in this area continues.
At the same time, German law enforcement agencies have so far ignored requests from the Russian side in the field of international search for vehicles.
The Bureau continues to work intensively with the Interpol General Secretariat on the issue under consideration and is taking all necessary measures to protect the rights and legitimate interests of Russian citizens.
In addition, I would like to remind you about the opportunity to personally contact the Interpol File Control Commission. This body is designed to interact with citizens of different countries on information processing issues. Practice shows that this is an effective mechanism.
"Such call centers are criminal networks"
— In the last two years, cases of luring Russian citizens to call centers located on the border of Thailand and Myanmar, where they are held in slave conditions, have become more frequent. Are there any examples of cooperation in this area?
— The active development of international fraudulent call centers really poses a serious transnational threat to human rights and public safety, affecting the interests of the entire global community.
With the development of technology, such crimes have become more sophisticated and organized. They use a wide range of online platforms, as well as social networks, mobile messengers, and online games. They are associated not only with financial fraud, but also with human trafficking, extortion and illegal collection of personal data, while simultaneously affecting a large number of potential victims. At their core, such call centers are extensive criminal networks where various participants perform separate functions: from searching for potential victims and organizing their movement to ensuring the operation of fraudulent schemes.
As a rule, crimes begin quite innocuously — with an offer of a high-paying job in messengers or social networks. Potential victims are promised full employment support, registration of necessary documents, travel expenses and attractive working conditions abroad. However, such proposals may conceal criminal schemes related to both human trafficking and coercion to participate in fraudulent activities.
The international police community takes into account new challenges and threats and takes the necessary measures. At the Interpol General Assembly held at the end of 2025, a resolution was adopted on the issue of transnational fraudulent call centers. The initiative submitted by the South Korean law enforcement agencies and supported by the Russian side and most of the ICPO-Interpol countries calls on the global police community to work together to eliminate such call centers: arrest and extradition of criminals, tracking and freezing illegal assets, conducting international operations and protecting victims, including those forcibly involved in criminal activities under the guise of employment abroad.
The adopted resolution also provides for the prevention and prevention of such crimes through joint public awareness and education campaigns in order to reduce the number of victims of fraud, especially when applying for employment abroad.
As part of the resolution's implementation, an international expert group was established at the end of 2025, with Russia participating in its work. The Russian Interior Ministry's NCB Interpol, together with the Russian Interior Ministry, pays special attention to this issue and maintains constant contact with the law enforcement agencies of Thailand and Myanmar. Interpol's channels allow us to respond promptly to emerging threats and provide the necessary assistance to the Russians within our competence.
I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to our citizens to be vigilant. Do not trust offers of high-paying jobs coming from unknown companies and their representatives, especially if you are promised to fully arrange relocation and employment abroad as soon as possible. Be sure to check the information about the employer and working conditions.
If you are planning a trip to an unfamiliar country in connection with employment, be sure to tell your family and friends exactly where you are going, keep contacts of Russian diplomatic missions in your host country and keep in touch with your loved ones. Simple precautions will help to avoid serious consequences.
— What approaches does Russia follow when searching for individuals on its territory at the initiative of foreign countries, including unfriendly ones?
— The Russian Federation always adheres to the principled position of strictly observing the norms of international law in matters of international law enforcement cooperation and preventing its politicization.
Russian law enforcement agencies faithfully fulfill their obligations on this track and take all possible measures to respond to requests from foreign partners, regardless of the international situation, guided by professional interests in the field of protecting citizens' rights.
A significant number of people wanted by foreign law enforcement agencies are regularly detained in Russia. First of all, undoubtedly, on the initiative of the CIS member states. In addition, this year, the Russian side detained wanted persons at the request of Hungary, India, Latvia, Mongolia, Poland, Turkey, the Czech Republic and other countries.
In accordance with art . 2 of the Charter of the Organization, we strive to ensure broad cooperation with all law enforcement agencies of the Organization's member countries within the framework of laws in force in different States and in the spirit of compliance with the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights". We are open to dialogue on the creation and development of institutions capable of making an effective contribution to the prevention and suppression of ordinary crimes.
It is important to note that criminals from Russia are extradited to all countries whose official requests are satisfied by the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation. In 2026, such renditions were carried out to Georgia, China, Latvia, Mongolia, Poland, Romania and Turkey.
— You were the head of the Interpol NCB unit for seven years.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for cooperation with Europol. Do you maintain friendly relations with police officers from European countries? How do they perceive the current difficult relations with Russia?
— Over these seven years, the Bureau has accumulated significant experience in police cooperation with European partners through cooperation with Europol.
However, after the EU Council unilaterally decided in March 2022 to suspend Europol's cooperation with Russia within the framework of the strategic agreement, we were forced to limit further communication with representatives of European countries to working contacts within Interpol. Nevertheless, we always remain open to a constructive dialogue with Europol and the resumption of joint work in areas where it is possible and mutually beneficial.
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