Russian Foreign Ministry: "We advise Tokyo to forget about encroachments towards the Kuriles for evermore"

According to RIA Novosti, in response to Japanese sanctions, the Russian side stops visa-free trips of the Japanese to the South Kuriles. In general, Tokyo was advised to forget about its claims to the Kuriles for evermore.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also reported that the Russian side is blocking the extension of Japan's status as a partner of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization in the sectoral dialogue.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Lavrov previously called the Japanese position on the Kuril Islands "illegal", as Tokyo is trying to revise the results of World War II.

“Japanese officials have repeatedly stated that they recognize the results of the war, with the exception of the results regarding the South Kuril Islands, or, as they call them, the Northern Territories. This is an illegal position. Japan's legal position should have been determined by the fact that Japan has ratified the UN Charter, and it contains Article 107, which states that everything that was done by the victorious powers is non-negotiable”, - Minister Lavrov said.

After the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, many Western countries announced large-scale economic sanctions against Russia, primarily against the banking sector and the supply of high-tech products. Japan has imposed several packages of sanctions. The restrictions affected dozens of officials and companies, as well as the export of hundreds of different goods.