Interpol’s New Chair: Kim Jong‑yang Wins Over a Russian Contender
So Interpol just handed the keys to its global police hall to a Korean diplomat named Kim Jong‑yang. The headline moment? It escorted a Russian guy—Alexander Prokopchuk—out of the running on a wave of boos from the West.
Why Russia’s Bid Got a Rough Day
You’ve probably heard the chatter about how Moscow has been staging Interpol’s “red notices” like a bad magician’s trick. The talk is that those alerts have been used to seize political opponents, journalists, and dissidents. This has earned the Russian house a notorious reputation in the “hot‑water” section.
“Put a fox in charge of a henhouse”— a bold line from a bipartisan group of U.S. senators.The U.S. is feeling the heat too. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo fired one last salvo, saying his respect for law and order backs Kim. He even declared that the 2020‑end of Meng Hongwei’s term is coming to a graceful close with Kim stepping in.
Allies Who Are Quietly Championing Kim
The Russian Side of Things
A Tension Ticker: Ukraine, Lithuania, and More
One of the most dramatic reactions came from Ukraine. The country, which has long been at odds with Moscow over Crimea, threatened to pull out if Prokopchuk wins. Lithuania was also playing the same move—keeping its options open on an Interpol exit.
A High‑Profile Backup Drama
Meanwhile, a pair of high‑profile rebels entering the scene:
Both claim to be pushing for Russia’s suspension on the platform, citing that the agency’s own constitution forbids serial abusers. Straw‑poll answers? They argue that Russia is attempting to expand its criminal tentacles globally—“like a bad spider in a popcorn bucket.”
The Bottom Line
Interpol’s new president currently comes from South Korea. The decision welcomes approval from the U.S., the U.K., and other diplomatic watchdogs who fear that a Russian chief could open the door to political persecution. Though the operation has all the right twists—potential resignations, chants about “threads,” and coups of professional cricket—its true outcome hangs on whether Kim can keep the agency’s focus on real crime and away from political theatre.
