Britain is leading a final attempt to stop an alleged former KGB agent from taking over as the head of Interpol.

Alexander Prokopchuk, a veteran of Russia’s interior ministry, is the favourite to be elected as the next president of the police co-operation body when delegates vote in Dubai tomorrow.

News that he had emerged as the frontrunner was revealed by The Times on Saturday and has prompted frantic efforts by activists and politicians from across the spectrum in the UK, US and Europe to thwart his appointment.

Russia has faced criticism from the west for abusing the agency’s “red notice” system of international arrest warrants to target political opponents. Mr Prokopchuk spent several years as head of the department responsible for issuing Russia’s red