The Open Dialog Foundation appealed to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) pointing to the need to reform the international police mechanisms. At the same time, stories of victims of the system, documented in the Foundation’s most recent report, were presented.
Russia was involved at least in 18 cases where was identified the the abuse of Interpol towards prosecuted political refugees. Kazakhstan was involved at least in 10 cases.
The UNHCR’s mandate authorises the Commissioner to coordinate international actions aimed at protecting refugees and that is why the Foundation has appealed to the High Commissioner to initiate the process of reform. The ODF’s postulations also included the creation of institutional conditions for closer cooperation between the UN and Interpol’s authorities and the initiation of a dialogue at the level of the European Parliament and the European Commission.