After a lengthy process, the Interpol General Secretariat unanimously decided that the search for French citizen Alexandre Benalla was justified. In April 2025, a "Red Notice" was issued, and notifications were sent to all member states regarding the international search.

Axar.az reports the decision is based on a legal request issued in 2024 regarding a criminal case under investigation by the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

As is known, Alexandre Benalla, the former head of the French President's Security Service, and Anass Derraz, the vice president of the French multinational "Saur" company (currently in Azerbaijan and under prosecution), are accused of accepting large sums of bribes and other criminal activities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions on the assets of Azerbaijani-Russian billionaire Farhad Akhmedov in 2018.

According to previous reports published in foreign and local media regarding this case, French officials allegedly demanded a bribe from Farhad Ahmadov in exchange for releasing his luxurious Luna yacht from international seizure and providing him with protection from sanctions.

Based on the information, part of the multimillion-dollar bribe was transferred to Anass Derraz’s account at AL HILAL BANK and Alexandre Benalla’s account at BANK OF AFRICA UNITED KINGDOM PLC SC PAR.

In an undisclosed manner, the investigation has obtained evidence against A. Derraz, who has been held accountable in Azerbaijan and banned from leaving the country. Meanwhile, a request has been made to Interpol for an international search notice for A. Benalla.

Interpol's decision to issue an international search notice for A. Benalla, the former head of the French President's Security Service, based on a "Red Notice" — the most serious legal action — suggests that the State Security Service possesses irrefutable and credible evidence. A "Red Notice" mandates the person’s detention in the country where they are found and their extradition to the country that issued the notice. It is known that A. Benalla is currently involved in extradition proceedings in a third country.

It is expected that an open trial will soon begin in Baku in connection with the criminal case against A. Derraz, who was detained in Baku, and that the disclosed international corruption evidence will lead to additional scandals.