Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin rides with the Night Wolves in 2011 (Picture: Reuters)

Finland has issued an apology to Russian president Vladimir Putin after mistakenly adding him to a criminal blacklist.

The Nordic country placed the 60-year-old on the register after he was snapped hanging out with Russian motorcycle gang Night Wolves last year.

Finnish TV station MTV3 reported that his name had been added to the list despite no suggestion of Mr Putin committing a crime in the country.

Interior minister Paivi Rasanen conveyed her ‘sincerest apologies’ to Mr Putin over the mistaken entry.


Banned in Finland: Russia president Vladimir Putin poses with the bikers (Picture: AFP/Getty)

‘The interior ministry considers it of grave concern if a member of the police has made such groundless entries into the database of suspects,’ she added.



Police spokesman Robin Lardot confirmed an investigation into the incident has been launched and his name has been removed from the list.

President Putin has recieved an apology from Finland (Picture: Reuters)

‘The National Police Board has investigated the case and indeed found that such a mistaken entry was in the register,’ he said.

‘We have ordered it to be removed and are investigating the case very thoroughly. We don’t know how it got there.’

Russin president Vladimir Putin snapped playing with his dogs (Picture: AFP / Getty)

MTV3 said the blacklist includes information on people who are suspected of offences punishable by prison.

Mr Putin, known as an action man politician, showed off his more sensitive side earlier this week when he was snapped rolling around in the snow with his pet dogs.

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