Russia is searching for 1,535 criminals through Interpol channels and needs more bilateral extradition agreements with foreign countries, a senior police official said on Wednesday.

"At present, Interpol arrest warrants have been issued for 1,535 convicted and suspected criminals on Russia`s request," Maj. Gen. Timur Lakhonin, the head of the National Interpol Bureau in Russia, said in an interview with the Izvestia newspaper.

Lakhonin said the extradition of Russian criminals from foreign countries had been hampered by the "lack of bilateral extradition agreements."

"Russia only has such agreements with 68 countries," the general said.

According to Lakhonin, 38 criminals were extradited to Russia from 16 countries in 2009 with Interpol`s assistance. Russia extradited 16 criminals to other countries during the same period.
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