MOSCOW, November 10 /TASS/. Alexander Prokopchuk, the head of the National Central Interpol Bureau of the Russian Interior Ministry, has been elected Interpol’s Vice President from Europe, the Russian Interior Ministry press center told TASS on Thursday.

"Elections to Interpol’s governing bodies took place on the closing day of the 85th session of the Interpol General Assembly. Police Major General Alexander Prokopchuk, head of the National Central Interpol Bureau of the Russian Interior Ministry, was elected Interpol’s Vice-President from Europe," the Russian Emergencies Ministry said.

According to the press center, it was the first time that a Russian had been elected to Interpol’s governing bodies ever since Russia became a member of the international police body. Prokopchuk’s election confirmed Russia’s standing in combatting international crime.

"Meng Hongwei, China's Deputy Public Security Minister, was elected to serve as the organization’s president," the press center said.