Finland apologizes for wrongly blacklisting Putin

Finland's Interior Minister Paivi Rasanen has apologized to Russian President Vladimir Putin after he was erroneously put on a secret blacklist of people with connections to criminal activity, Finnish media reported.

MTV3 reported Wednesday that Putin's name had been put on the criminal register due to his contact with Russian biker club Night Wolves. After the mistake was discovered, his name was quickly removed.

"I wish to extend Russia's President Vladimir Putin my sincere apologies for the incorrect registry entry," the Finnish TV station quoted Rasanen as saying in a statement.

She also pledged the matter would be "thoroughly investigated".

Putin is known for his support to Night Wolves. When the motorcycle club was established in 1989, its members at first labeled it "a motorgang". Later, Night Wolves cut any associations with outlaw