Russian-Japanese spat over Kuriles

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Tokyo’s refusal to issue visas for a Russian delegation representing the Sakhalin region in Japan is an infringement of bilateral ties.

Tokyo’s position, according to the Foreign Ministry, is unacceptable as it doubts Russia’s ownership of the Kuril Islands and hinders Japanese-Russian cooperation. Such actions contradict Japanese claims to develop full-fledged bilateral relations. Fourteen islands of the Kuril Archipelago reclaimed by Russia after WW2 are currently claimed by Japan.