Russia has banned access to its territory for 30 Japanese citizens, including an employee of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, in response to sanctions introduced by Tokyo over the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported, BTA reports.
A statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry states that the measures are “indefinite” and affect several journalists, scientists and civil servants. Among the sanctioned individuals is Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Toshihiro Kitamura.
In September, the Japanese government introduced new sanctions against Russian companies, individuals and organizations, the agency recalls. In addition, Japan has limited imports of Russian crude oil, following the example of its Western allies. However, Tokyo continues to receive energy resources from the Russian island of Sakhalin, despite US calls for its partners to end economic ties with Moscow.
Japan protested Russia's decision and expressed "regret" over it, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a briefing. He stressed that contacts between the people of the two countries remained important, and accused Moscow of shifting the blame for the war in Ukraine to other countries.
When asked how the British ban on insurance for Russian liquefied gas could affect energy imports from Sakhalin and whether Japan planned new sanctions against Moscow, Kihara declined to comment. He added that Tokyo would work to achieve peace in Ukraine while protecting its national interests.