Japan refuses to recognize Russian presidential elections in annexed Crimea
The Embassy of Japan in Ukraine released a statement on March 22 affirming its refusal to recognize the legitimacy of either the Russian Presidential elections in the Crimea or the annexation of the peninsula.
"Japan does not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in March 2014, therefore, it does not consider the holding of the so-called Russian presidential elections in Crimea on March 18, 2018 as valid," the statement says.
The Embassy of Japan also emphasized that Japan supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and does not recognize attempts to change a status quo by force.
Earlier, on Thursday, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine issued a statement on the illegality of the elections in the Crimea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin won re-election with 92% of the votes.