Russian President Vladimir Putin took the news of being blacklisted by the Finnish police ironically, Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday, ITAR-TASS reports. “It implies no response. As far as we know, the Finnish side spotted this mistake in proper time,” Peskov told the Kommersant FM radio station. “They are conducting a relevant check, so I don’t think any actions are needed. The Finnish side has already provided its reaction and apologized.”
On Wednesday, Finnish media reported “sensational news” that the name of the Russian president had been put on certain secret “black lists” of the Finnish Central Criminal Police for his ties with the “Nochnye Volki” (Night Wolves) Moscow-based bikers’ club. Finnish commercial broadcaster MTV3 reported that the Finnish police suspected Putin of having contributed to the organized crime. Information about it, according to the TV channel, is “kept in an ultrasecret police registry,” to which only several dozen specially trained policemen have access”.
Later in the day, the Finnish police officially apologized for the incident. “I would like to offer sincere apologies to Russian President Vladimir Putin for this erroneous record,” Finnish Interior Minister Paivi Rasanen said. “I think it is important to thoroughly investigate this incident. A pre-trial investigation might be launched if needed.”
“Indeed, the name of Vladimir Putin was on that list, but this happened because of a personal mistake by one of our staffers,” Finnish National Police Commissioner Mikko Paatero told Tass. “At the present time the error has been eliminated. I deeply regret that this has become possible and on behalf of Finnish police I express deep regrets in connection with what happened,” he said.
Russkiy Mir Foundation Information Service
