Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova sharply responded to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's criticism of Vladimir Putin's visit to Iturup Island, reports infohub.kz.
Zakharova stressed that Takaichi's remarks cause "extreme indignation and are absolutely unacceptable." She reminded that all Kuril Islands are "an inalienable part of Russia."
"Japanese high-ranking officials have gone so far as to insolently dictate to Moscow which regions of its own country its supreme leader may or may not visit. We categorically reject these statements as politically irrelevant, offensive, and, of course, legally void. The current attacks by the Japanese leadership against Russia are yet another evidence of the short-sighted line of official Tokyo, which has chosen an anti-Russian course bordering on hostility," Zakharova wrote.
According to her, Japan is "destroying Russian-Japanese relations to the ground," which "were built with great difficulty by the Russian side and responsible Japanese political leaders." "Accordingly, official Tokyo, which through complicity in the Russophobic policy of the 'collective West,' including the introduction of illegal restrictions, has violated all legal norms, is not in a position to lecture on international law and the need to care about the future of Russian-Japanese relations. It is also obvious that such a line in dealings with its closest neighbor does not meet the interests of the Japanese people, whose feelings the Japanese leadership tries to invoke. In general, Tokyo still resides in some imaginary reality that has nothing to do with the actual state of affairs. We remind in this regard that the Southern Kurils passed to our country following World War II, enshrined in the agreements of the Allied Powers and the UN Charter," the spokesperson added.
She also noted that Russia's sovereignty and jurisdiction are beyond doubt. Furthermore, Zakharova believes that Takaichi's statements are permeated with "revanchism."
Recall that Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kuril Islands for the first time, which provoked a sharp reaction in Tokyo. There, they issued a resolute protest and stated that the feelings of the Japanese people had been offended. Thus, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that the Southern Kuril Islands of Kunashir, Shikotan, Iturup, and Habomai, which Tokyo calls the Northern Territories, are "inherent territory of Japan." Takaichi clarified that, according to the Japanese position, the islands are "inherent territory of Japan both from a historical point of view and under international law."