Interpol vice president Alexander Prokopchuk (L) and and Meng Hongwei, president of Interpol, attend the opening of the Interpol World Congress in Singapore on July 4, 2017. / AFP / ROSLAN RAHMAN
Interpol vice president Alexander Prokopchuk (L) and and Meng Hongwei, president of Interpol, attend the opening of the Interpol World Congress in Singapore on July 4, 2017. / AFP / ROSLAN RAHMAN
Interpol vice president Alexander Prokopchuk (L) and and Meng Hongwei, president of Interpol, attend the opening of the Interpol World Congress in Singapore on July 4, 2017. / AFP / ROSLAN RAHMAN
Interpol vice president Alexander Prokopchuk (L) and and Meng Hongwei, president of Interpol, attend the opening of the Interpol World Congress in Singapore on July 4, 2017. / AFP / ROSLAN RAHMAN

Interpol on the brink as Putin crony set to take over


Gareth Browne
  • English
  • Arabic

The future of Interpol was questioned on Tuesday, as a close associate of Vladimir Putin looked set to win election as the organisation's new president on Wednesday.

Alexander Prokopchuk, a general in the Russian interior ministry, is the front-runner of two candidates contesting the election, which was triggered by the disappearance of Meng Hongwei, who is reportedly under arrest in his native China.

European countries, including Lithuania and Ukraine, have threatened to pull out of the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) and critics of Vladimir Putin have warned they are threatened by development.

The resignation of Mr Meng followed his detention in China on corruption charges. The final vote is scheduled to take place at the organisation’s annual conference on Wednesday in Dubai,

One of the main issue of contention is Russia’s use of the organisation's red notices, the system by which arrest warrants are notified across borders. While Red Notice alerts are designed to catch suspected criminals who have travelled to foreign countries, critics say Russia has attempted to use the alerts in politically motivated arrests.

At a press conference in London, two high-profile figures who have been targeted in an alleged manipulation of the Interpol mechanism, condemned the campaign to have Mr Prokopchuk elected president.

Bill Browder, a British financier was arrested in Spain this year as a result of a red notice in his name issued by Russia. It was later disregarded as politically motivated. He said that Mr Prokopchuk’s election would be “like putting the mafia in charge” of the police.

"I can't imagine a more inappropriate person than the architect of the abuse doled out to me by Russia through Interpol,” he said.

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Russian dissident and former billionaire, Mikhail Khordorkovsky, has had a number of red notices issued against him. He warned that Mr Prokopchuk’s election could have serious consequences for data sharing between international police forces. “I am seriously concerned that a representative of the Kremlin will have access to the Interpol database," he said.

Ben Keith, a barrister at 5 St Andrew's Hill, who works with international warrants, told The National that voting states should have a last-minute rethink. "Appointing Prokopchuk hands legitimacy for abuse of Interpol to Putin and puts his cronies in charge," he said. "Russia already uses Interpol to pursue opponents for political and financial ends. Appointing him as president give credence to corrupt practices and allows Russia to claim legitimacy for flagrant breaches of international law and human rights."

Mr Browder warned that western nations might have to consider their future in the organisation in the event of Mr Prokopchuk’s election. “If a Russian heads Interpol, the West will have to look for Plan B,” he said.

Indeed, it appeared that was already the case, as Ukraine’s Interior Minister, Arsen Avakov describing the potential appointment as absurd, said Ukraine may be pull out of the 194-member organisation should the Russian win the presidential election. Lithuania’s parliament voted unanimously to consider withdrawing in the event of Mr Prokopchuk’s election.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

RESULTS

2.15pm: Al Marwan Group Holding – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: SS Jalmod, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)

2.45pm: Sharjah Equine Hospital – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Ghallieah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout

3.15pm: Al Marwan Group Holding – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Inthar, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi

3.45pm: Al Ain Stud Emirates Breeders Trophy – Conditions (PA) Dh50,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: MH Rahal, Richard Mullen, Elise Jeanne

4.25pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup – Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: JAP Aneed, Ray Dawson, Irfan Ellahi

4.45pm: Sharjah Equine Hospital – Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Edaraat, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Where to buy

Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com

About Karol Nawrocki

• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.

• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.

• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.

• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

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Straightforward ways to reduce sugar in your family's diet
  • Ban fruit juice and sodas
  • Eat a hearty breakfast that contains fats and wholegrains, such as peanut butter on multigrain toast or full-fat plain yoghurt with whole fruit and nuts, to avoid the need for a 10am snack
  • Give young children plain yoghurt with whole fruits mashed into it
  • Reduce the number of cakes, biscuits and sweets. Reserve them for a treat
  • Don’t eat dessert every day 
  • Make your own smoothies. Always use the whole fruit to maintain the benefit of its fibre content and don’t add any sweeteners
  • Always go for natural whole foods over processed, packaged foods. Ask yourself would your grandmother have eaten it?
  • Read food labels if you really do feel the need to buy processed food
  • Eat everything in moderation
The Bio

Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity

ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Super heroes

Iron Man
Reduced risk of dementia
Alcohol consumption could be an issue

Hulk
Cardiac disease, stroke and dementia from high heart rate

Spider-Man
Agility reduces risk of falls
Increased risk of obesity and mental health issues

Black Panther
Vegetarian diet reduces obesity
Unknown risks of potion drinking

Black Widow
Childhood traumas increase risk of mental illnesses

Thor
He's a god

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Martin Sabbagh profile

Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East

In the role: Since January 2015

Lives: In the UAE

Background: M&A, investment banking

Studied: Corporate finance

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

In numbers

1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:

  • 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
  • 150 tonnes to landfill
  • 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal

800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal

Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year

25 staff on site

 

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

BlacKkKlansman

Director: Spike Lee

Starring: John David Washington; Adam Driver 

Five stars

SPECS
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About Proto21

Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Things Heard & Seen

Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini

Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton

2/5