Updated

The international police agency Interpol has rejected a Russian push to locate and arrest a Britain-based investor who is a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin's regime.

France-based Interpol said in a statement Friday it has "deleted all information in relation to William Browder."

A special Interpol-related committee decided at a meeting Friday that "the case was of a predominantly political nature" and therefore Interpol shouldn't be involved in helping Russia pursue Browder.

Browder, of Hermitage Capital investment fund, welcomed the decision.

Hermitage lawyer Sergei Magnitsky was investigating corruption before being arrested. He later died in police custody.

Browder successfully pushed for U.S. sanctions against Russians involved in the Magnitsky case. Russia accuses Browder of tax violations.