Politics Russia declares Japanese foreign minister and eight other Japanese personae non grata

[thomas]

Not that it matters, but Russia announced that it had placed nine Japanese individuals, including Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, on its entry ban list in response to Japan's sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine. The move, which sparked an immediate reaction from Tokyo on Tuesday, also affects former and current ambassadors to Ukraine, Kuninori Matsuda and Masashi Nakagome, along with executives of private Japanese companies that previously conducted business in Russia.

The entry ban is "truly regrettable," Iwaya said, adding Japan will maintain interaction with Russia as the two nations, which have not signed a peace treaty due to the territorial dispute since the end of World War II in 1945, face "many matters of concern." Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Japan has implemented economic sanctions against Russia, such as freezing the assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and other government officials, in lockstep with the other Group of Seven members. Russia has prohibited numerous Japanese lawmakers from entering the country. In 2022, former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his successor Shigeru Ishiba, who took office last October, were put on the list as Cabinet members and House of Representatives lawmakers, respectively.

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Russia adds Japanese foreign minister, 8 others to entry ban list

List also targets former and current ambassadors to Ukraine, heads of private companies

asia.nikkei.com