Russia to expel 8 Japanese diplomats
9:23 JST, April 28, 2022
Tokyo (Jiji Press) — The Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday announced the expulsion of eight Japanese diplomats in retaliation for a similar measure taken by Tokyo over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
It is very unusual for Japanese diplomats to be expelled from a foreign country. The Tokyo-Moscow relations are expected to deteriorate further.
The Russian ministry summoned staff of the Japanese Embassy in Moscow to demand that the eight diplomats leave Russia by May 10.
In a statement, the ministry said that Japan openly takes a hostile anti-Russian line after Moscow started its military operation in Ukraine.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s administration has joined the United States, European countries and others in defaming Russia, the ministry argued.
The administration has thus destructed the outcomes of the long-standing mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation, an unprecedented act between the two countries in the present age, the ministry added.
The ministry also criticized Tokyo for providing assistance to Ukraine.
All blame falls on the Japanese government, which has rejected friendly and constructive relations with Russia, the ministry said.
On April 8, Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori summoned Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Galuzin to declare the expulsion of eight officials at the Russian Embassy in Tokyo in response to alleged mass killing of civilians in Ukraine by Russian forces.
The Japanese Embassy in Moscow confirmed Russia’s announcement of the expulsion of eight Japanese diplomats.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine “is a clear violation of international law and totally unacceptable,” the Japanese government said, demanding that Russia halt its military attacks and withdraw its troops immediately.
Moscow caused the current situation by resorting to military means, the government also said, adding that “it is absolutely unacceptable to make a claim aimed at shifting the responsibility to the Japanese side.”
"Politics" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Promotes Revised NISA Investment Program to Young People; Kishida Focusing on Moving Money From Savings to Investment in a Safe Environment
-
Chinese Ships Stay in Japanese Waters near Senkaku Islands for 2 Days
-
Japan, U.S. to Join Forces on AI, Semiconductors; Seek to Counter China’s ‘Military-Civil Fusion’
-
Japan, U.S. to Work Together for Expanding Marine Product Supply Chains; Countering China’s Economic Coercion
-
84% of People Nationwide Say They Feel Japan’s National Security Is Under Threat
JN ACCESS RANKING
- M6.0 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Tohoku Region; Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi Prefectures Observe 4 on Japanese Scale With No Risk of Tsunami
- Cherry Blossoms Draw Crowd to Tokyo’s Ueno Park; Viewing Season Kicks Off to Slow Start
- China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
- Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers
- Whaling Mother Ship Built in Japan for 1st Time in 73 Years