Contents tagged with Kuril Islands
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Russia protests Japan-U.S. military drills near Hokkaido, citing concerns over border proximity
Russia's Foreign Ministry expressed a "strong protest" to Japan on Friday, October 11, over Tokyo's plans to conduct large-scale military exercises with the United States later this month. The drills, specifically in regions near the island of Hokkaido, are described as being "in close proximity to Russian borders," according to the ministry.
The Russian ministry deemed these joint exercises "categorically unacceptable" and warned the Japanese embassy in Moscow about "inevitable adequate …
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Russia withdraws from WWII peace treaty talks with Japan over sanctions
The Russian Federation withdraws from negotiations with Japan aimed at signing a formal World War II peace treaty and cancels visa-free travel for Japanese citizens to the southern Kuril Islands. This measure is taken in response to sanctions imposed by Japan against the Russian Federation, said the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"It has been decided to stop visa-free travel for Japanese citizens on the basis of 1991 agreements on visa-free exchanges between the southern Kuril Islands of the …
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Kremlin demands Google display annexed Crimea and Kuril Islands as part of Russia
The head of the State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption Vasily Piskarev demanded at a meeting with the representaives of Google Corporation that the company display annexed Sevastopol, Crimea and the Kuril Islands as part of Russia in the Google Maps service, TASS reports with reference to the press service of the committee.
According to Piskarev, at a meeting with Google’s representatives in April, he pointed out "inconsistency with national legislation in identification of …
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Putin gives green light for free economic zone on Kuril Islands
Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially given the green light for establishing a free economic zone on the Kuril Islands.
At the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum, Putin announced an "unprecedented" set of tax incentives, which should create the best conditions for business in all of Asia.
"We will completely exempt business from paying key taxes on profits, property, land and transport tax. And for 10 years," Putin said, adding that this will apply to the companies that …
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Japan condemns Russian Prime Minister’s visit to Kuril islands
Japan sent a note of protest to Russian Ambassador Mikhail Galuzin over the visit of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to the South Kuril Island of Iturup, said Chief Cabinet Secretary of the Japanese government Katsunobu Kato.
The Russian Prime Minister's trip to the disputed island "contradicts Japan's consistent position on the northern territories and is very regrettable," Kato said at a press conference in Tokyo. Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, in turn, said that …
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U.S. recognizes Russians born in Kuril Islands as Japanese
The United States said that, for its Diversity Visa Program, residents of the South Kuril Islands will be considered to be natives of Japan.
In the instructions for the Diversity Visa Program published by the U.S. Department of State, it is noted that “persons born in the Habomai Islands, Shikotan, Kunashiri, and Etorofu are chargeable to Japan”.
At the same time, the program states that “persons born in Southern Sakhalin are chargeable to Russia”.
In turn, the Russian Foreign Ministry …
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Russia deploys surface-to-air missiles on disputed Kuril Islands
Russia has announced the deployment of advanced air defense missiles in the disputed Kuril Islands.
The press service of the Russian Eastern Military District said in a statement that the S-300B4 anti-aircraft missile systems were put on combat duty in the Kuril Islands in addition to the short-range Tor M2 missile systems stationed there.
The Zvezda (Star)TV channel of the Russian Defense Ministry reported that anti-aircraft missile systems are located on the island of Iturup, one of the …
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Russia deploys S-300 missile systems to Kuril Islands
As part of the exercise, the anti-aircraft missile unit of the Eastern Military District, equipped with the latest S-300V4 missile system, will be deployed to the Kuril Islands, announced the press service of the Eastern Military District.
"The anti-aircraft missile division of the Eastern Military District stationed in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast began the exercise to relocate one of its units over a long distance," the district's press service said.
As part of the exercise, the unit will …
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Japan protests against Russia’s geological exploration near Kuril Islands
Japan sent a note of protest to Russia because of the geological exploration in the Sea of Okhotsk, including near the Kuril Islands, said Chief Cabinet Secretary of the Japanese government, Yoshihide Suga. His speech was published on the website of the Japanese government.
According to him, Tokyo is following Russia's actions in the region, which are not in compliance with Japan's position.
"We sent our message to Russia, saying that it is not in compliance with the position of our country," …
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Russian Foreign Minister explains why peace treaty with Japan cannot be signed
The conclusion of a peace treaty between Russia and Japan is hindered by the military-political alliance between Tokyo and Washington, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters in Nagoya, Japan. The broadcast of his speech was published on Twitter by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"The military alliance with the United States, of course, is a problem in giving a new quality to Russian-Japanese relations," he said. The Minister recalled that when agreeing on the Soviet- …
