Alexander Vasilyevich Prokopchuk (Russian: Александр Васильевич Прокопчук; 18 November 1961) is a Russian employee of the internal affairs agencies, head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation National Central Bureau of Interpol from 14 June 2011, and vice-president of Interpol from 10 November 2016.[1]

Alexander Prokopchuk
Vice President of Interpol
Assumed office
10 November 2016
PresidentMeng Hongwei
Kim Jong Yang
Secretary-GeneralJürgen Stock
Personal details
Born (1961-11-18) 18 November 1961 (age 62)
Ukraine SSR, USSR
RelationsIhor Prokopchuk (brother)
Alma materKyiv State University
Financial University

Early life and education edit

Prokopchuk was born in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, USSR. He graduated from Kyiv State University with a degree in Romano-Germanic Languages and Literature in 1983, and the Financial University with a degree in law in 2000. Candidate of Economic Sciences.[2][3]

Controversy and career edit

Following the unexpected disappearance of Meng Hongwei by Chinese authorities in 2018, Prokopchuk became the likely successor to Hongwei as President of Interpol.[4][5] However, both Bill Browder of Hermitage Capital Management and Mikhail Khodorkovsky lobbied against Prokopchuk stating that his presidency would be like the mafia running a police organization.[6][7][8] Bill Browder asserted that Prokopchuk is one of Vladimir Putin's puppets and urged Canada to help expel Russia from Interpol.[8][9] On 21 November 2018, Interpol elected Kim Jong-yang from South Korea as its president.[10]

Personal life edit

His younger brother, Ihor Prokopchuk, is a Ukrainian diplomat who serves as the country's permanent representative to the OSCE.[11][12]

References edit

  1. ^ "В МВД подтвердили назначение россиянина вице-президентом Интерпола". RIA Novosti. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  2. ^ "Александр Васильевич Прокопчук. Биографическая справка". RIA Novosti. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  3. ^ "Times назвала Прокопчука главным претендентом на пост главы Интерпола". Komsomolskaya Pravda. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  4. ^ "Moscow accuses Bill Browder of poisoning Sergey Magnitsky, as Russia is expected to win Interpol's next presidency". Meduza.io. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  5. ^ Maza, Cristina (19 November 2018). "Bill Browder Says Russia Accusing Him of Poisoning Lawyer Who Was Tortured in Prison Is Part of Putin's 'Vendetta'". Newsweek. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  6. ^ Faulconbridge, Guy; Osborn, Andrew (20 November 2018). "Kremlin critics unite to try to stop Russian becoming Interpol head". Reuters. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  7. ^ Coker, Matt (29 November 2018). "A Clockwork Orange: Don't Mess With Bill". OC Weekly. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Top Kremlin critics aim to stop Russian from becoming Interpol head: Move would be akin to 'putting the mafia in charge,' Bill Browder says". CBC. Reuters. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  9. ^ Phillips, John (23 November 2018). "Browder urged Canada to help to expel Russia from the Interpol". US News. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  10. ^ Turak, Natasha (21 November 2018). "Interpol elects South Korean as chief, rejecting controversial Russian contender". MSNBC. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  11. ^ МЗС прокоментувало родинні зв'язки дипломата Прокопчука з кандидатом у президенти Інтерполу
  12. ^ Брат кандидата з РФ на пост глави Інтерполу представляє Україну в ОБСЄ – ЗМІ

External links edit