30

Nov
A landscape view of Cyprus with coastal mountains, used to illustrate INTERPOL, extradition issues, and the occupied area of Northern Cyprus.
INTERPOL’s Blind Spot: Occupied Cyprus

As a Cypriot lawyer specialising in INTERPOL and cross-border criminal law, I am frequently asked whether extradition is possible from the occupied area of Cyprus, commonly referred to as “Northern Cyprus” or the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The answer is clear and strictly legal: no. The so-called TRNC is recognised only by …

25

Nov
“Header image showing INTERPOL Red Notice and Yellow Notice symbols with the title ‘INTERPOL and Parental Child Abduction
INTERPOL and Parental Child Abduction

Parental Child Abduction International Parental Child Abduction (IPCA) represents one of the most challenging areas of cross-border family law. When a child is wrongfully removed to or retained in another jurisdiction without the other parent's consent, and informal or diplomatic efforts fail, the situation becomes legally complex and difficult to resolve. The paramount consideration must …

21

Nov
Analysis of INTERPOL’s immunity and the El Omari v. INTERPOL ruling on whether individuals can sue over abusive Red Notices.
Can You Sue INTERPOL?

As of 12 September 2025, the short answer remains No. An individual cannot sue INTERPOL for harm caused by the publication or circulation of a Red Notice. Despite the increasing number of people claiming that politically motivated or abusive notices have targeted them, INTERPOL is immune from legal proceedings before domestic courts. The most recent …

20

Nov
INTERPOL–UN Security Council Special Notice banner illustrating global sanctions enforcement.
INTERPOL and UN Sanctions: Any Relationship?

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) carries a unique mandate under Chapter VII of the UN Charter: the preservation of international peace and security. When military action is not appropriate, Article 41 empowers the Council to impose non-military sanctions, including asset freezes, arms embargoes, and travel bans. However, these measures only have real impact when …

19

Nov
Interpol Blue Notices - INTERPOL Notices System
INTERPOL Blue Notices: How Do They Differ from Red Ones?

Among INTERPOL’s colour-coded notices, the Blue Notice has traditionally remained overshadowed by the better-known Red Notice. However, recent statistics show that the Blue Notice is rapidly becoming one of the fastest-expanding tools in international police cooperation. From 2014 to 2024, Blue Notices issued nearly doubled, from 2,167 to 4,078. This sharp rise signals a significant …

18

Nov
Infographic showing the INTERPOL Red Notice publication process, highlighting the request, review stage and decision before publication.
INTERPOL Red Notices: Before Publication

Before an INTERPOL Notice or Diffusion is published, it goes through a careful review to make sure it follows the rules, stays neutral and respects human rights. The process starts when a country sends a request through its National Central Bureau. The Notices and Diffusions Task Force (NDTF) then checks the request. First, it looks …

28

Oct
Red Notice lifted
Red Notice Lifted – When, and Then, What?

A Red Notice can be lifted in three ways: suspension/withdrawal, cancellation, and deletion. Particularly: 1. Suspension (Temporary) or Withdrawal of a Red Notice Under Article 81 of INTERPOL’s Rules on the Processing of Data (RPD), a National Central Bureau (NCB) or authorised international entity may suspend a Red Notice for up to six months by …

28

Oct
Red Notices: How Are They Published?

Contrary to popular belief, INTERPOL’s General Secretariat does not issue Red Notices on its own initiative. Each of INTERPOL’s 196 member states operates a National Central Bureau (NCB), which serves as the gateway between national law enforcement authorities, INTERPOL’s General Secretariat, and their international counterparts. These communications occur via INTERPOL’s secure global police network, I-24/7. …

30

Nov
A landscape view of Cyprus with coastal mountains, used to illustrate INTERPOL, extradition issues, and the occupied area of Northern Cyprus.
INTERPOL’s Blind Spot: Occupied Cyprus

As a Cypriot lawyer specialising in INTERPOL and cross-border criminal law, I am frequently asked whether extradition is possible from the occupied area of Cyprus, commonly referred to as “Northern Cyprus” or the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The answer is clear and strictly legal: no. The so-called TRNC is recognised only by …

25

Nov
“Header image showing INTERPOL Red Notice and Yellow Notice symbols with the title ‘INTERPOL and Parental Child Abduction
INTERPOL and Parental Child Abduction

Parental Child Abduction International Parental Child Abduction (IPCA) represents one of the most challenging areas of cross-border family law. When a child is wrongfully removed to or retained in another jurisdiction without the other parent's consent, and informal or diplomatic efforts fail, the situation becomes legally complex and difficult to resolve. The paramount consideration must …

21

Nov
Analysis of INTERPOL’s immunity and the El Omari v. INTERPOL ruling on whether individuals can sue over abusive Red Notices.
Can You Sue INTERPOL?

As of 12 September 2025, the short answer remains No. An individual cannot sue INTERPOL for harm caused by the publication or circulation of a Red Notice. Despite the increasing number of people claiming that politically motivated or abusive notices have targeted them, INTERPOL is immune from legal proceedings before domestic courts. The most recent …

20

Nov
INTERPOL–UN Security Council Special Notice banner illustrating global sanctions enforcement.
INTERPOL and UN Sanctions: Any Relationship?

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) carries a unique mandate under Chapter VII of the UN Charter: the preservation of international peace and security. When military action is not appropriate, Article 41 empowers the Council to impose non-military sanctions, including asset freezes, arms embargoes, and travel bans. However, these measures only have real impact when …

19

Nov
Interpol Blue Notices - INTERPOL Notices System
INTERPOL Blue Notices: How Do They Differ from Red Ones?

Among INTERPOL’s colour-coded notices, the Blue Notice has traditionally remained overshadowed by the better-known Red Notice. However, recent statistics show that the Blue Notice is rapidly becoming one of the fastest-expanding tools in international police cooperation. From 2014 to 2024, Blue Notices issued nearly doubled, from 2,167 to 4,078. This sharp rise signals a significant …

18

Nov
Infographic showing the INTERPOL Red Notice publication process, highlighting the request, review stage and decision before publication.
INTERPOL Red Notices: Before Publication

Before an INTERPOL Notice or Diffusion is published, it goes through a careful review to make sure it follows the rules, stays neutral and respects human rights. The process starts when a country sends a request through its National Central Bureau. The Notices and Diffusions Task Force (NDTF) then checks the request. First, it looks …

28

Oct
Red Notice lifted
Red Notice Lifted – When, and Then, What?

A Red Notice can be lifted in three ways: suspension/withdrawal, cancellation, and deletion. Particularly: 1. Suspension (Temporary) or Withdrawal of a Red Notice Under Article 81 of INTERPOL’s Rules on the Processing of Data (RPD), a National Central Bureau (NCB) or authorised international entity may suspend a Red Notice for up to six months by …

28

Oct
Red Notices: How Are They Published?

Contrary to popular belief, INTERPOL’s General Secretariat does not issue Red Notices on its own initiative. Each of INTERPOL’s 196 member states operates a National Central Bureau (NCB), which serves as the gateway between national law enforcement authorities, INTERPOL’s General Secretariat, and their international counterparts. These communications occur via INTERPOL’s secure global police network, I-24/7. …

28

Oct
Red Notice: Presumption of Guilt?

The existence of a Red Notice does not imply that the individual concerned is guilty. It must not be treated as evidence of guilt, in line with the Presumption of Innocence protected under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Individuals subject to Red Notices generally fall into one of the following categories: …