A Red Notice issued by Interpol is a notice indicating that a person is wanted internationally and can have serious legal consequences. These notices are issued for the international arrest and extradition of persons. However, they are not always issued lawfully. Therefore, it is possible to lift unjust or unlawful Red Notice decisions and the support of an experienced lawyer is of great importance in this process.
What is a Red Notice?
A Red Notice is issued by Interpol (the International Criminal Police Organization) to ensure that persons against whom an arrest warrant has been issued are recognized and apprehended by the law enforcement agencies of other countries. Although this bulletin is not technically an “arrest warrant”, it has a powerful effect in terms of cooperation between countries. The Red Notice allows for the arrest and extradition process to be initiated regardless of the person’s whereabouts.
On what grounds is a Red Notice issued?
In order for a Red Notice to be issued, there must be a national arrest warrant for the person. This decision is transmitted to Interpol and disseminated to other countries. However, one of Interpol’s basic principles is that searches should not be conducted for “political, military, religious or racial reasons”. For this reason, some bulletins may be canceled on the grounds that they are not based on legal grounds.
What Rights Does a Red Notice Restrict?
The freedom of movement of persons wanted under a Red Notice is severely restricted. Their passports can be invalidated, they can be detained at airports and risk arrest in 195 Interpol member countries. In addition, their bank accounts can be frozen, their international transactions restricted and extradition proceedings initiated. This can have a profound impact on both personal and professional life.
Under What Circumstances Is an Interpol Bulletin Unlawful?
Not every Red Notice decision may be in accordance with the law. In particular, it is possible to lift the red notice in the following cases:
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Decisions issued for political or ideological reasons
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Files with insufficient evidence
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Criminal statute of limitations cases
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Unlawfully obtained arrest warrants
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Notifications about persons who have been acquitted or dismissed by the court
In such cases, Interpol’s supervisory mechanisms can be activated to request the lifting of the Red Notice.
How Does the Process of Lifting the Red Notice Work?
The lifting of a Red Notice is possible through a formal application to the General Secretariat of Interpol. The application is submitted through the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF), Interpol’s Supervisory Commission. The process works as follows:
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Preparation of the Application: Prepare a detailed petition with justifications. Issues such as illegality, case status and human rights violations are emphasized.
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Submission of Evidence: Official documents such as acquittal decision, court documents, statute of limitations documents are attached to the application.
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CCF Evaluation: The Interpol Supervisory Commission evaluates the application and requests information from the relevant country authorities.
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Notification of Decision: The result of the application is notified to the applicant in writing.
Since this process requires detailed knowledge and expertise, it is of great importance that it is carried out by an expert lawyer.
Is it possible to apply for the lifting of the Red Notice from Turkey?
Yes, Turkish citizens or foreign nationals living in Turkey can apply directly or through their lawyers to the Interpol Supervisory Commission. In addition, a lawsuit can be filed before the courts in Turkey to request the revocation of the Red Notice. These lawsuits may be based on grounds such as the violation of the person’s rights, that the bulletin has no legal basis and that it is contrary to the principles of international law.
What is the Role of the Lawyer for Red Notice Revocation?
The presence of an experienced lawyer is critical in such applications. This is because correspondence with Interpol is conducted in English, requires knowledge of international law and requires strategic preparation of the application. Lawyer
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Identifies legal errors in the file,
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Prepares petitions in accordance with the principles of international law,
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Conducts correspondence with relevant institutions,
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Represents the client in defenses before the CCF.
An incorrectly prepared application may prolong the process or be rejected altogether.
How Long Does it Take to Lift a Red Notice?
The process of lifting the Red Notice may vary depending on the content of the application and the speed with which information is received from the relevant countries. Generally, results can be obtained between 6 months and 1 year. In this process, it is important for the applicant to be patient and submit the necessary documents in full.
What happens after the Red Notice is lifted?
If the application is approved, the record in the Interpol database is deleted and the relevant countries are notified that the bulletin has been lifted. Thus, the international arrest warrant against the person is terminated. After this process, the person can travel internationally, carry out banking transactions and freely exercise his/her legal rights.
Protect Your Rights with Legal Assistance
The Red Notice and Interpol search is an international legal process that can seriously affect an individual’s life. However, if this process is carried out wrongly, unfairly or politically motivated, it is a legal right to have the bulletin lifted. Therefore, it is critical to have the support of a lawyer in every situation related to the Red Notice in order to ensure the successful outcome of the process.
You can contact us for professional assistance in the process of lifting the Red Notice and take the necessary steps together to protect your rights.
