Japan imposed new sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine today, including asset freezes on dozens of individuals and groups and export bans on dozens of organizations in Russia and several other countries accused of helping to circumvent the sanctions, the Associated Press reported.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said today's new sanctions demonstrate Japan's commitment to G7 efforts to strengthen sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine.
Japan has already imposed several packages of sanctions, and today's announcement comes as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reaffirmed his country's policy course at a virtual G7 summit in mid-December.
„This is Japan's contribution as part of international efforts to achieve world peace and resolve problems surrounding Ukraine, caused by the Russian invasion,” Hayashi said.
According to a joint statement by the foreign, trade and finance ministers, 11 individuals, 29 organizations and three banks from Russia, as well as a North Korean and Georgian bank accused of helping to evade sanctions, have been added to the list of individuals and entities with frozen assets.
Export restrictions will also be imposed on 31 non-Russian companies that the government says helped Russia circumvent sanctions. Eleven of them are based in Hong Kong, seven in China, eight in Turkey, two in Kyrgyzstan and one each in Thailand, the UAE and Kazakhstan.