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Japan expels Russian consul

Last week, top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said that Japan denied the espionage allegations. (AFP)
Last week, top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said that Japan denied the espionage allegations. (AFP)
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04 Oct 2022 08:10:19 GMT9
04 Oct 2022 08:10:19 GMT9

Arab News Japan 

TOKYO: Japan’s Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs MORI Takeo on Tuesday summoned Russian Ambassador Mikhail Y. Galuzin for the second time over the detention of a Japanese consular official in Vladivostok and told the ambassador that a Russian consul will be expelled from Japan.

Russia has alleged that the consular officer was engaged in spying and reportedly interrogated the official while blindfolded. The Japanese government responded with extreme anger and issued a statement.

“With regard to Russia’s declaration of a consular officer at the Consulate-General of Japan in Vladivostok as persona non grata, there is no fact that the consular officer conducted an illegal activity as Russia alleges,” the statement said. “The acts by Russia, including a detention of the consular officer and an intimidating interrogation, constitute a clear and serious violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the Japan-Soviet Consular Convention. It is extremely regrettable, and absolutely unacceptable.”

“In addition, it is an unbelievable act that Russia declared the consular officer as persona non grata, and Japan lodges once again a strong protest against it. 

“The Government of Japan declares a consul at the Consulate-General of the Russian Federation in Sapporo as persona non grata and demands the expulsion of the consul from Japan within 6 days.”

In addition to the comments on the consul, Mori also commented on the referendums carried out in occupied regions of Ukraine, reasserting Japan’s position on the attempted “incorporation” of the regions by Russia, and Russia’s threats to use nuclear weapons.

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