Lavrov criticises Japan’s response to Putin’s visit to Kuril Islands; ambassador summoned to Foreign Ministry

Tokyo has “crossed the bounds of decency” with its “unacceptable” statements regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the Kuril Islands, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in response to a question from TASS.

“Our Japanese colleagues and neighbours have, of course, crossed the bounds of decency with their completely unacceptable statements suggesting that the President of the Russian Federation cannot visit any part of Russian territory,” Lavrov said at a press conference following talks with Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

Japan’s ambassador in Moscow has been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry to provide explanations regarding both the protest lodged by the Japanese side over Putin’s visit to Iturup Island and the way the ambassador should conduct his work in the host country.

“In any case, we have summoned the ambassador. He must come to the Foreign Ministry, and we will discuss both the conduct of the Japanese leadership in connection with President Putin’s visit to Russia’s Iturup Island and how the ambassador should conduct his work in the host country — respecting both its laws and the procedures that apply to foreign diplomats in that country, in this case Russia,” Lavrov said.

Lavrov also said the ambassador had not appeared at the Foreign Ministry. According to him, the embassy said the ambassador was unable to visit the Russian Foreign Ministry on either August 14 or August 17. Lavrov said the embassy had not clearly explained whether the ambassador was out of the country or was unwell. The Russian foreign minister described the Japanese side’s attitude as “surprising”.

The Kuril Islands came under Russian control following Japan’s surrender at the end of the Second World War, but Tokyo does not recognise Russian sovereignty over the four southern islands of the Kuril archipelago.

Putin visited the Kuril island of Iturup on August 13, a move that prompted a strongly negative reaction in Tokyo.