In 2025, we were approached by a client, the founder of a successful IT company operating in the CIS and European markets. His situation was typical of “legal turbulence”: the sudden initiation of a criminal case under Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, the blocking of accounts and, as a result, receiving a notification of inclusion in the Interpol database (Red Notice “Red Circular”).

Introductory data:

• Status: International Wanted List (Red Notice).
• Risks: Inability to cross borders, freezing of personal and corporate assets, reputational collapse.
• Purpose: Exclusion from the Interpol database, lifting restrictions on movement.

Stage 1: “Silent Exploration” (Months 1-2)

The first thing we did was forbid the client to leave the country of his current stay. Any attempt to cross the border could lead to immediate detention.

We conducted an in-depth audit of the criminal case materials obtained through trusted persons. Our task was to understand whether there were signs of “political persecution” in the case or a violation of Article 3 of the Interpol Statute (prohibition on using the system for political purposes).

Stage 2: Preparation of the legal position (3-4 months)

We have prepared a package of documents for the File Control Commission (CCF). Our strategy was based on three pillars:

• Proof of political motivation: We have collected data that the criminal prosecution began immediately after the client’s refusal to transfer a share in the company to representatives of certain structures.
• Economic validity: We have engaged independent auditors who have confirmed that the investigation’s claims under Article 159 are a classic business dispute that has been transferred to the criminal plane.
• Non-compliance with standards: We proved that the data provided by the investigation was incomplete and contained factual errors.

Stage 3: Communication with CCF and Struggle (Months 5-11)

The Interpol Commission is not a quick court. We actively corresponded, responding to clarifying requests. There were moments of “calm” when it seemed that the system was ignoring our arguments, but this is where legal persistence is important.

Stage 4: Victory and “cleansing” (Month 12)

On the 12th month, we received an official notification from the CCF: our client’s data was deleted from the Interpol database.

But the work didn’t end there. We sent requests to the national databases of the countries where the client planned to be located to ensure that the information about the “withdrawal” reached all border systems.

The 3 main conclusions from this case are:

1. No independent requests from a non-core lawyer. An incorrectly formed request creates many risks, from refusal to review, ending with a refusal to delete the red circular.
2. No “independent” checks. The fact that you (or your lawyer) have written to Interpol already gives away your location. We use methods that do not deanonymize the client.
3. Time is playing against you. This process took exactly one year. During this year, the client managed to structure assets and transfer the business to a secure jurisdiction.

Do you need legal assistance in “complex” cases?

The SafeWay Advisory team specializes in protecting entrepreneurs and IT leaders in the face of international harassment. We work strictly through secure communication channels (Telegram/Signal).

Evaluate the chances of your wanted list being lifted as part of a confidential consultation. 🔗 safewayadvisory.com