Finnish police have opened a criminal investigation to find out who was responsible for adding President Vladimir Putin to a blacklist of wanted people.
Ten people are suspected of being involved.
Putin's name was added to the blacklist by a secretary of the Finnish Central Criminal Police, acting on the orders of a police officer, Interfax reported Thursday, citing the Finnish media agency YLE.
The names of the secretary, the police officer and the other eight suspects were not provided.
Putin, who has brushed off the incident, apparently was blacklisted due to his connection with the motorcycle club Night Wolves, whose head, Alexander Zaldostanov, has been awarded a medal by Putin for promoting "patriotic values."
Finnish police were also investigating the leak of the blacklist.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
