Relations between Japan and Russia — from diplomacy to business — are quickly growing fragile as Tokyo joins Western countries in putting pressure on Moscow, including by imposing sanctions, The Japan Times reports.
On Tuesday, Japan announced a fresh package of sanctions, freezing the assets of an additional 32 Russian and Beralusian officials and oligarchs as well as 12 organizations from the two countries.
The latest list of names includes Alexey Gromov and Sergei Kiriyenko — both first deputy chiefs of staff in Russian President Vladimir Putin's administration — as well as deputy chairmen of the state parliament.
The government will also ban exports to Russia of equipment that can be used to refine oil, along with items to Belarus that can be used for military purposes.
Tokyo also designated the Belarusian Defense Ministry and a Minsk-based military semiconductor-maker as subject to sanctions, banning the receipt of payments from them by Japanese exporters from March 15.
“We cannot overlook the clear involvement of Belarus,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a news conference Tuesday.
Japan has joined Western countries in freezing the assets of Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Seven of Russia's banks are to be disconnected from the SWIFT global payments network, following a push by the European Union and the Group of Seven nations which are seeking to disrupt Moscow’s trade and money transfers.
