Former Moldovan Justice Minister Accused in Corruption Case Involving Interpol

SadaNews - A former Moldovan Justice Minister was accused in France last night, Friday, for deleting Interpol alerts requiring the arrest of wanted individuals, according to a source close to the case who informed the French press agency.

The French public prosecutor's office states that it suspects that conspirators of various nationalities paid millions of dollars to officials to obstruct red notices issued by Interpol against suspects.

Vitaly Burlug, who previously chaired the oversight committee for Interpol's archives, was arrested in the UAE (Tuesday) based on an international arrest warrant issued by French authorities.

The detained individual was extradited to France on Friday, facing charges of organized fraud and evading arrest, according to the source who confirmed a report previously published by the French newspaper "Le Monde".

Another source close to the case stated that Burlug is suspected of "aiding suspects in obtaining asylum seeker status in Moldova" to benefit from the suspension of red notices issued against them.

Red notices are international alerts against individuals suspected of being criminals.

Emmanuel Marcenay, Burlug's lawyer, stated in a comment to the French press agency that the French arrest warrant is "incomprehensible" since his client had previously informed the French financial prosecutor's office of his address in the UAE.

He added that his client was waiting to be summoned for questioning according to what international agreements stipulate. He stated: "Certainly, Burlug is not someone who intended to evade justice; quite the opposite.".

Interpol reported that after discovering an attempt to "suppress and delete red notices" in a small number of cases, it informed the authorities in France.

At the beginning of 2025, French authorities opened an investigation into suspected corruption within Interpol. The headquarters of the international law enforcement agency is located in Lyon, southeastern France.

French financial prosecutor Jean-François Bounert stated that his team suspects individuals from various nationalities of bribing officials to block and delete red notices targeting some fugitives. He noted that the amounts paid could reach millions of dollars.