Interpol takes Yanukovych off list

OTTAWA – On July 21, Interpol removed the “red notice” from Viktor Yanukovych after the disgraced former president’s lawyers filed an appeal. Ukraine vowed to fight to ensure the return and trial of Mr. Yanukovych after his name was unexpectedly removed from Interpol’s international most wanted list. In January, Interpol placed Mr. Yanukovych on its red notice list for “misappropriation, embezzlement or conversion of property by malversation” because it lacked the criminal authority to open the more severe charges sought by Ukraine. An Interpol spokesman said that the “suspension means that the Red Notice is not accessible to any member country searching Interpol’s databases, and has been removed from the ‘wanted persons’ section on the Interpol website for the duration of the review.” An Interpol red notice requires member states to “seek the location and arrest of wanted persons with a view to extradition or similar lawful action.” (Ukrainian Canadian Congress)