Russia is facing a showdown with European leaders over claims it is "abusing" the international "red notice" system for arresting criminals, in an attempt to silence critics of Vladimir Putin.

Documents seen by the Telegraph show that Moscow has issued a fresh request to Interpol for the "arrest and extradition" of Bill Browder, a prominent campaigner for sanctions against Russian officials involved in human rights abuses.

The disclosure comes amid growing concern in Europe about the use of red notices by authoritarian leaders cracking down on their critics.

This week Angela Merkel warned President Erdogan of Turkey not to "misuse" Interpol after the system was used by Ankara to arrest a Turkish journalist in Spain.

A Council of Europe report this year cited earlier Russian attempts to seek Mr Browder's arrest through Interpol as an example of alleged "abuses" of the system by states pursuing "political goals".

Bernd Fabritius, the special rapporteur who wrote the report, told the Telegraph that the European human rights body had been clear that Interpol should "block repeated red notices" and that he would "take action" if Interpol had allowed the latest request.

Previous attempts by Russia to issue a red notice for Mr Browder through Interpol have been blocked amid a public outcry about the use of the international policing network for political purposes - although the recent appointment of a Russian police official as vice president of the body may help Moscow to press its case.