MOSCOW: Moscow stated on Monday (Aug 17) it had summoned the Japanese ambassador after Tokyo condemned President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to Russia’s far-eastern Kuril Islands, that are additionally claimed by Japan.
Russian-Japanese relations have lengthy been dogged by the contested islands, identified in Japan because the Northern Territories and seized by the Soviet Union in 1945.
Putin, 73, travelled to the islands after visiting the close by Russian island of Sakhalin, prompting Japan to summon Russia’s ambassador in protest.
Moscow retaliated by summoning Japanese envoy Akira Muto.
Japanese officers had “crossed the road of decency” in criticising Putin’s journey, International Minister Sergei Lavrov stated Monday.
“Now we have summoned the (Japanese) ambassador,” Lavrov informed reporters, including that Tokyo had initially stated Muto couldn’t attend instantly.
“We have been informed both that he was not in Moscow or that he was unwell. We didn’t fairly perceive the state of affairs,” Lavrov stated.
