Book on how to bribe Russians leaves Finnish government red-faced

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2005

HELSINKI (AFP) — The Finnish government said it regretted sponsoring a book giving detailed examples of how to bribe Russian officials and businessmen published by the Finnish-Russian Chamber of Commerce.

"We would say that the book really encourages bribing, and we are absolutely of the opinion that one must not allow instructions on bribing to be published in an instruction manual we are supporting financially," Bo Goeran Eriksson, head of the trade department of the Trade and Industry Ministry, told AFP.

His department contributes 430,000 euros (557,000 dollars) annually to the Finnish-Russian Chamber of Commerce, set up to foster trade relations between the two neighboring countries.

The book is doubly embarrassing as Finland is considered the least...