Over 60 Japanese citizens, including PM, FM, parliamentarians, prohibited from traveling to Russia - Russian Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW. May 4 (Interfax) - Russia has added 63 Japanese citizens, including Prime Minister Fumio Kushida, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi to its stop list as a retaliatory measure.

The sanctions, which envisage an open-ended travel ban, will also apply to a number of Japanese parliament members, heads of Japanese media outlets, journalists and academic community members.

The full list of individuals under restrictions is published on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website.

"The administration of Fumio Kishida has unleashed an unprecedented anti-Russian campaign and has resorted to unacceptable rhetoric in regard to the Russian Federation, including slander and outright threats," the ministry said.

"Public figures, experts and mass media of Japan have joined in: they are fully engaged in the Western sentiment towards our country. In line with this policy, Tokyo has been taking practical steps to dismantle neighborly relations and do harm to the Russian economy and the international standing of our country," it said.