The Russian Foreign Ministry made a presentation to the Japanese Embassy because of the "strange requirement"

A presentation was made to the Japanese Embassy in Moscow in connection with an unusual situation — the Consulate General of the country in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk suddenly asked to return one of the exhibits of the library — the Kinkakuji — Golden Pavilion model, which was considered an official gift. This was reported by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"On July 25, a presentation was made to the Embassy of Japan in Moscow in connection with the situation that arose due to the "request" of the Consulate General of Japan in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk addressed to the Ministry of Culture and Archival Affairs of the Sakhalin Region to return the Kinkakuji - Golden Pavilion model exhibited since 2001 in the regional scientific library (previously considered as official a gift)," the ministry said.

It is noted that the Russian side "expressed surprise at such a strange demand."

"It is unlikely that such a request contributes to the creation of a favorable information background around the activities of the Japanese Consulate General, as well as the rehabilitation of the once positive image of the land of the rising sun, lost in the eyes of Sakhalin residents and Russians in general as a result of the unfriendly policy of official Tokyo towards the Russian Federation," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.