Moscow warns Tokyo decision on Japanese sanctions against some Russians will not go unanswered
MOSCOW. April 29 (Interfax) - Japan's decision to introduce visa sanctions against a number of Russian citizens will not go unanswered, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"Moscow is disappointed by Tokyo's decision to introduce visa sanctions regarding a number of Russian citizens and, of course, it will not go unanswered," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich posted a statement on the ministry's website in response to a mass media question.
"This awkward step is obviously taken under external pressure and contradicts Tokyo's statements on the importance of developing the entire range of relations with Russia," the high-level diplomat said.
"We want to emphasize that it is counterproductive to talk to us with the language of sanctions, not to mention that Japan's participation in the attempts to pressure Russia in no way assists tension de-escalation in Ukraine," Lukashevich said.
It emerged earlier on Tuesday that the Japanese authorities passed additional sanctions against Russia foreseeing temporary suspension of issuing visas to 23 Russian citizens due to the fact that Moscow did not fulfill measures to de-escalate tensions in Ukraine.
The names of Russian citizens, regarding whom these measures were introduced, have not been revealed for now. When composing the list, Tokyo took into account against whom the United States and European Union had introduced sanctions, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
In March Tokyo suspended talks with Moscow on easing visa regulations as a measure to impact Russia due to the situation in Crimea.
The Japanese government also decided to freeze talks with Russia on investments, guarantees of using space for peaceful purposes and preventing military activities posing a threat.
