Japan was the first to impose sanctions against Russia — Deputy Suzuki

Japan was the first to impose sanctions against Russia. Commenting on the ban on nine Japanese citizens, including Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, from entering the Russian Federation, this was stated by the deputy of the upper house of the Japanese parliament Muneo Suzuki, TASS reports.

"On March 3, the Russian Foreign Ministry, in response to ongoing sanctions by Japan, imposed an indefinite ban on the entry of nine people, including Foreign Minister Ivaya. Japan started first, so it's natural that Russia is taking appropriate diplomatic measures," the agency quoted the politician as saying.

Earlier, on March 3, the Russian Foreign Ministry, as a response to Japan's sanctions policy, closed entry to the territory of the Russian Federation to nine citizens of this country, including the head of the Japanese foreign Ministry, Takeshi Iwaya. In addition to him, the Japanese Ambassador to Masashi Nakagome, former Ambassador to Ukraine Kuninori Matsuda, Senior Vice President of the Japan Agency for International Cooperation (JICA) Sehei Hara, Head of the JICA Office at Hideki Matsunaga, as well as the presidents of IHI Corporation, Isuzu Motors Limited, Prodrone and Cyberdyne.

The Japanese Foreign Minister called this step unacceptable. As Kyodo news agency reported, the Japanese Foreign Ministry protested to the Russian side through diplomatic channels.